OF FOREIGN THUGS AS IS LET LOOSE ON BAIL
victed of murder in Albania. He was arrested by the Met Police’s extradition unit, which had been seeking him for more than three years, in Slough in February.
Albanian authorities say he was involved in a clash with nephew Milazim Shehu in 2015, and “injured him 12 times with a sharp cutting tool”. The victim, whose heart was pierced, died in hospital.
Shehu fled Albania but was convicted in his absence of murder last October and sentenced to life.
In August last year the Met appealed for help to find him, saying he had links to London, Eastbourne, Leeds and thewest Midlands.
Last month, Shehu’s lawyers said he should not be extradited because of prison overcrowding and an ongoing feud with a criminal gang.
District judge Michael Snow ruled that Shehu could be extradited but had to refer the case to Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Another Albanian who entered the UK illegally is Arjan Hoxhaj, 50. He was wanted on suspicion of murdering Ramadan Bregu on April 12, 1995, and trying to murder Nefail Bregu the same day. He has now been remanded in custody.
David Spencer, research director for the Centre for Crime Prevention, said: “The public will rightly be horrified that criminals like these are able to walk freely into this country.
“They will be even more shocked to learn that they are committing further offences and putting the lives of British people at risk while the police and border forces are seemingly powerless to stop them.
“Cases like these are one of the reasons why freedom of movement has to be stopped when we leave the EU. This is a big reason why the majority voted Leave.”
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Border Force carries out checks on 100 per cent of passengers arriving on scheduled services. We continue to lead on global efforts to identify and apprehend wanted criminals, including developing agreements with countries to share criminal records.
“We will also be introducing tougher UK criminality thresholds both at the border and for deportation of criminals in the UK.”