An Albanian murderer who brazenly posted TikTok videos from his British prison cell pleading to be sent home is finally facing deportation. He is part of a contentious £4 million-a-year scheme to repatriate some of the UK's most dangerous foreign offenders.
The TikTok Inmate and the Multi-Million Pound Deal
Eugert Merizaj received a life sentence with a minimum term of 32 years in May 2022 for his role in the shotgun killing of rival drug dealer Hemawand Ali Hussein. Despite being incarcerated at HMP Manchester, also known as Strangeways, Merizaj has repeatedly flouted prison rules by livestreaming on TikTok since 2023, with guards seemingly powerless to stop him.
In one clip from August, he confirmed applying for a transfer to Albania under a deal finalised in 2023. This agreement commits Britain to pay Albania £4 million annually to take back 200 of its nationals convicted of serious crimes like murder, rape, and drug dealing.
Delays and Dangerous Criminals Left Behind
However, the scheme has been plagued by significant delays. A source within the Albanian Prison Service revealed to the Mail that only 11 prisoners have been transferred so far. On November 11, a judge in the Albanian city of Fier accepted Merizaj's application, formally recognising his UK sentence and paving the way for his move to Peqin high-security prison.
Despite this progress, 15 other Albanian murderers eligible for the scheme remain in British jails. This group includes Koci Selamaj, sentenced to life for murdering schoolteacher Sabina Nessa in 2021. In 2024, Selamaj received an extra four and a half years for stabbing a prison guard, highlighting the security risk posed by violent inmates. The annual cost to keep a prisoner in the UK exceeds £53,000.
Life Behind Bars: Complaints and Contraband
Even with his impending transfer, Merizaj remains at HMP Manchester. In a recent video shot on a Thursday night, he complained about being locked in his cell for 'four days'. His social media presence paints a picture of relative comfort, showing items like a TV, games console, and designer clothing in his cell.
Discussing the potential move to an Albanian jail in an earlier TikTok, Merizaj listed his grievances: "The food in this prison is terrible. You can't even speak Albanian here... I haven't seen my family in seven years... the main reason I want to go back is to see my family." He has also filmed himself vaping, winning online games for cash, and soliciting viewer donations.
Merizaj was part of a gang that lured Hussein to a house in Hartlepool, County Durham, in 2019 before he was shot. The judge noted Merizaj did not fire the shotgun but was deeply involved in planning the attack and had purchased weapons.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated: "Prisoner Transfer Agreements are just one way in which we get foreign criminals out of our jails. Since taking office, this Government has deported over 5,400 foreign offenders." The department has deployed staff to 80 prisons to accelerate the removal of those with no right to remain.
