[citation needed] Among them was one of the greatest Albanian intellectuals, Faik Konica, who moved to London and continued to publish the magazine Albania, which he had founded in Brussels.
After this decision, Britain faced a huge and unexpected influx of Albanians from Kosovo, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
[8] A mapping exercise published by the International Organization for Migration in September 2008 states that there were no official estimates of the total number of ethnic Albanians in the UK at the time.
Albanian organised criminals display a readiness to use serious violence, which according to the National Crime Agency makes their impact more troubling, however.
Local networks have been established in corner shops and barbers in towns across the UK, with teenagers targeted for recruitment in distributing drugs.
The NCA has revealed that a significant proportion of its 70 live immigration investigations have been linked to Albanian organised criminal groups.
[24] Those who are unable to pay the fee upfront, sign debt bondage agreements and work illegally once they arrive in the UK leading them to become vulnerable to exploitation.
[25] The NCA reports that many Albanian asylum seekers disappear from Home Office provided hotels and accommodations once their arrivals are processed.
[32] In October 2022, a committee of British Members of Parliament heard that so far that year over 12,000 people from Albania had entered the UK via small boat during the English Channel migrant crossings.
[34] A report from the National Crime Agency (NCA) stated that Albanian criminal groups now control large parts of the cannabis and cocaine markets, with Albanians now responsible for producing the most cannabis in the UK, which has led to the increase in small boat arrivals due to the need for labour in organised crime.
[39] Other reasons cited for Albanians arriving by small boats include high levels of social media promotion, particularly on TikTok, and the UK's higher likelihood of granting asylum compared to other European countries.
A new route taking Albanians from Santander in Spain to Portsmouth via lorry, at a cost of £14,000 per passenger, has been promoted as a safer alternative to small boats where they are less likely to be detected by border controls.
[48] By June 2022, the number of inmates fell to 1,336 (down from a peak of 1,779 in 2021)[49] but the proportion rose to 14%, again maintaining the highest percentage of the foreign prison population in the UK.
[51] Albanians make up 1.6% of all prisoners despite representing fewer than 0.05% of the UK population with convictions ranging from murder, manslaughter, rape, violent disorder, firearms offences, kidnap, causing death by dangerous driving, burglary and producing cannabis in gang-run farms in houses and disused industrial sites.
[53] In July 2021, British Home Secretary Priti Patel signed an agreement with the Albanian Government which would make it easier for the UK to return criminals and unsuccessful asylum seekers back to Albania.
[56] Prisoners who agree to be deported have reportedly had their jail terms reduced and receive a payment of £1,500 under the Facilitated Return Scheme which is available to all foreign nationals.