A DRUG courier stopped in Southampton with cocaine worth between £23,000 and £40,000 has been jailed for four years.

Alban Koci was stopped by officers on Winn Road while driving a black Peugeot.

Southampton Crown Court heard how he was “unable to satisfactorily explain his presence” in the city or why he had a parcel at the back of the car.

Police found 1.1kg of cocaine wrapped in a Tesco bag and foil in the car.

Koci, 32, was arrested on March 24, 2023, and admitted that he was delivering the package as a “one-off” in exchange for £500.

The cocaine was examined and was found to be 63 per cent pure with an estimated street value of £23,000 to £40,000.

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Prosecuting, Gary Venturi told the court that Koci had arrived in the UK on a US visa but was unable to find work and “fell in with other Albanians” as a result.

He added that the defendant was unable to provide an address for the recipient of the cocaine when asked, and had been “motivated by financial advantage”.

“There must be some awareness of the scale of the operation”, he added.

But defending, Chris Gager argued his client had a lesser role in the operation and had been “open and frank” with police.

Mr Gager said: “I have dealt with a number of Albanians who came into Southampton. This defendant stands out.

“Often they are young men. They don’t seem to have any financial connections.

“He tells me that he has a family in Albania. He has a young daughter. He was educated at university level.”

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He went on to say that his client only left Albania following an earthquake and the pandemic in a bid to find work.

He added: “He hasn’t given enough thought to the seriousness of his actions.

“I suspect at the end of the sentence he will be deported.”

Koci, of Whitmore Close, Enfield, was jailed for four years on Friday after admitting possession with intent to supply a class A drug.

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The judge, Recorder Marcus Pilgerstorfer KC, said: “In my judgement, this case is properly categorised in the significant role category.

“Clearly you were motivated by a financial advantage.

“Your offending is so serious as to cross the custody threshold.”

Koci has no previous convictions in the UK and no evidence could be found of any other offences around the world.