Dangerous Albanian fugitives on the run in Britain drug dealers a kidnapper and a burglar among at least 10 Balkan criminals dodging justice
Drug dealers, a kidnapper and a burglar are among at least ten Albanian criminals on the run after absconding from prison or ignoring recalls and warrants. A recent spate of accidental prisoner releases has renewed focus on the number of foreign criminals dodging justice amid failings by the Prison Service and police. The issue is particularly acute among Albanians, who are the largest single foreign nationality group in British jails. Gangs from the Balkan country are also heavily involved in people smuggling and are known to offer their services to criminals looking to flee the UK. One undercover Mail reporter – posing as the relative of a man on the run after killing someone – was previously promised a same-day trip to the Continent for £3,000. Albanian fugitives include Zenel Marku, 35, who walked out of HMP Hollesley open prison in Suffolk in 2021 while serving nine years for drug offences. Many of the offenders are wanted on recall to prison for breaching their licence conditions. They include Ajet Xhaja, who operated a cannabis farm in Oxfordshire; Liverpool drug dealers Juli Molla and Steljan Miraka; and Andon Llalla, who lived in Harrogate and has managed to evade police since October 2021. One of the most concerning cases involves Klej Doci, a member of a three-strong gang who kidnapped a man over a debt before holding him captive for five days. On the run criminals, pictured clockwise from top left: Ermir Shima, Andon Llalla, Andi Trokthi, Ajet Xhaja, Zenel Marku, Steljan Miraka, Klej Doci, Juli Molla, Jemin Oka and Gentian Gega The kidnappers snatched their victim from a car park in Reading alongside an innocent bystander who happened to be 'in the wrong place, at the wrong time'. They then stripped both men naked and repeatedly beat them over a five-day ordeal that finally ended when armed police burst into the flat in 2021. Sentencing Doci and his two associates at Reading Crown Court, Judge Heather Norton called the operation 'carefully planned'. Describing the ordeal suffered by the victims, she added: 'They were made to sleep on the floor, not given water or food, and forbidden to go to the toilet.' 'One of the victims appears to have been taken simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed the kidnapping.' Doci was jailed for five years in December 2023 before being released early on licence. He was recalled after breaching his licence conditions but failed to appear and is now wanted. The other Albanian offenders currently at large are wanted by police over a string of alleged crimes. Albanian gangs are heavily involved in people smuggling are known to offer their services to wanted criminals looking to flee the UK. This now deleted TikTok advert reads: 'People with problems who want to leave England as soon as possible, going to France or Belgium on the back of the lorry. Price £2,500 sterling. Get in touch to send you a phone number' Andi Trokthi is being hunted in connection with a burglary in Sheffield in January 2023, and Gentian Gega for drugs offences. Meanwhile, Emir Shima failed to attend probation appointments and Jemin Oka dodged a court hearing over an identity card offence. It comes as police continue to hunt another prisoner who was released by mistake. William Wenham was serving a two-year sentence and waiting to face trial for an offence of aggravated burglary when he was released in error from HMP Rochester on Tuesday June 3 this year. Wenham was convicted of burglary with intent to steal in his absence in Cambridge Crown Court on Friday October 3 2025. Sussex Police say the 47-year-old has connections to Havant, Worthing, Brighton, Peterborough, and the surrounding area. The issue of accidental releases was thrust into the spotlight last month when Epping migrant sex attacker Hadush Kebatu was released by mistake from HMP Chelmsford. Sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, and fraudster Billy Smith, 35, were later released from Wandsworth by mistake but are now back in custody. Justice Minister David Lammy recently told the Commons that 91 prisoners had been let out by mistake in just seven months. They were in addition to 262 releases in error from prison in the year to March. Out of those, three prisoners are still on the loose - two British nationals and a foreign national. A Government spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Offenders who abscond from custody or evade arrest face serious consequences and could spend longer locked up. We leave no stone unturned to make sure that those who breach their licence conditions are returned to prison, with nearly all offenders back behind bars within six months.'
In This Article:
- Ermir Shima — one of the ten fugitives pictured on the run
- Andon Llalla — has evaded police since October 2021
- Andi Trokthi — hunted in connection with a Sheffield burglary
- Ajet Xhaja — cannabis farm operator in Oxfordshire
- Zenel Marku — walked out of Hollesley open prison in 2021
- Steljan Miraka — named alongside Juli Molla as a Liverpool drug dealer
- Klej Doci — part of a three‑strong gang who kidnapped a man
- Juli Molla — Liverpool drug dealer
- Jemin Oka — dodged a court hearing over an identity card offence
- Gentian Gega — drugs offences
Ermir Shima — one of the ten fugitives pictured on the run
Ermir Shima is named among the ten Albanian fugitives pictured clockwise from the top left. The article does not provide additional details about his case beyond his inclusion in the on‑the‑run lineup.
Andon Llalla — has evaded police since October 2021
Andon Llalla, who lived in Harrogate, has managed to evade police since October 2021. He is listed among the Albanian fugitives still at large.
Andi Trokthi — hunted in connection with a Sheffield burglary
Andi Trokthi is being hunted in connection with a burglary in Sheffield in January 2023.
Ajet Xhaja — cannabis farm operator in Oxfordshire
Ajet Xhaja operated a cannabis farm in Oxfordshire.
Zenel Marku — walked out of Hollesley open prison in 2021
Zenel Marku, 35, walked out of HMP Hollesley open prison in Suffolk in 2021 while serving nine years for drug offences.
Steljan Miraka — named alongside Juli Molla as a Liverpool drug dealer
Steljan Miraka is named alongside Juli Molla as a Liverpool drug dealer in the fugitive lineup.
Klej Doci — part of a three‑strong gang who kidnapped a man
Klej Doci, a member of a three‑strong gang who kidnapped a man over a debt and held him captive for five days. The operation was described by Reading Crown Court as 'carefully planned'. Describing the victims, Judge Heather Norton said: 'They were made to sleep on the floor, not given water or food, and forbidden to go to the toilet.' "One of the victims appears to have been taken simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed the kidnapping." Doci was jailed for five years in December 2023 before being released early on licence. He was recalled after breaching his licence conditions but failed to appear and is now wanted.
Juli Molla — Liverpool drug dealer
Juli Molla is named as a Liverpool drug dealer in the fugitive list.
Jemin Oka — dodged a court hearing over an identity card offence
Jemin Oka dodged a court hearing over an identity card offence.
Gentian Gega — drugs offences
Gentian Gega is listed for drugs offences.
