Christian Albano, an Italian national, has admitted to facilitating the unlawful immigration of individuals into the United Kingdom. The 45-year-old appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court and pleaded guilty to a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration between June 29 and July 2.
Albano stated through his defense that his involvement in the operation was to "make quick money" to cover his mother's cancer treatment in Italy. His legal representative informed the court that Albano wishes to be deported as soon as possible.
Three other individuals, Konrad Dabrowski, 25, Damian Ciuron, 41, and Illia Prendi, deny the same offense. Fation Kalemaj, 44, also accused of the offense, was not present at the hearing to enter a plea.
Prosecutors allege that Albano acted as the "pilot" of a vessel that traveled from the Netherlands and arrived near Holland-on-Sea, in Essex. The court heard that several individuals were on board the boat when it reached British shores. The National Crime Agency reported that the people on board were detained for immigration offenses on July 1.
Albano's sentencing has been deferred until after the trial of his co-defendants, which is provisionally scheduled for March of the following year. He remains in custody. The six individuals who were on the boat have been handed over to Immigration Enforcement.