A convicted Albanian murderer is making headlines for all the wrong reasons—this time on social media.
Eugert Merizaj, 32, has been posting TikTok videos from his British prison cell, pleading to be transferred to Albania so he can see his family and escape what he calls the “terrible” food at HMP Manchester.
Life Behind Bars and Online Fame
Merizaj was sentenced to 32 years in May 2022 for his involvement in the shotgun killing of rival drug dealer Hemawand Ali Hussein.
Despite strict rules banning mobile phones in prison, Merizaj has repeatedly defied authorities, livestreaming games and even earning online tokens that can be converted into cash.
In a recent video, he complained that UK officials are blocking his transfer to an Albanian prison.
“I have done all the applications. It seems to me that those of us serving life sentences are not moving at all,” he told his TikTok audience.
The Prisoner Transfer Agreement
The UK and Albania signed a prisoner transfer agreement in May 2023, aimed at saving taxpayer money by allowing Albanians serving more than four years in the UK to complete their sentences at home.
However, the process has been slow, with only ten prisoners transferred so far.
Merizaj has openly lamented the delays. He explained that while Albanian prisons might restrict phones, his main motivation is seeing his family.
“I haven’t physically met them in seven years.
The food in this prison is terrible. You can’t even speak Albanian here—only English,” he said.
Comforts Amid Confinement
Merizaj’s videos suggest he is enjoying surprisingly comfortable conditions for a prisoner.
Clips from his cell show a TV, games console, speakers, and books in Albanian.
In one Instagram post, he sported £550 Dolce & Gabbana trainers while vaping, captioned in Albanian: “stronger than ever.”
He has also participated in TikTok’s “Live Matches,” chatting with viewers and requesting donations, earning small sums in the process.
Government Efforts to Reduce Foreign Prisoners
The UK government has been working to reduce the number of foreign nationals in British prisons, citing the £40,000 annual cost per inmate.
Currently, foreign offenders can be deported after serving half their sentence, but from September, this will drop to 30 percent.
Anyone deported under the scheme is free upon arrival in their home country.
Last year, Albanians made up the largest group of foreign prisoners in England and Wales, numbering 1,099.
Merizaj’s Crime and Conviction
Merizaj was part of a gang that lured Hemawand Ali Hussein to a house in Hartlepool in 2019 before killing him with a shotgun.
He was later tracked to Belgium and extradited to the UK. Three other gang members received manslaughter convictions.
Although Merizaj did not pull the trigger and was not present during the killing, he was heavily involved in planning the attack and purchasing weapons, including an axe, according to Mr Justice Lavender.
Officials Respond
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson clarified that most foreign prisoner returns happen under the Early Removal Scheme rather than the Prisoner Transfer Agreement.
“Since taking office, this Government has deported 4,532 foreign offenders—a 14 percent increase on the previous year,” the spokesperson added.
Staff are also being deployed across 80 prisons to speed up the removal of inmates who have no right to be in the UK.
The Home Office declined to comment further, and TikTok has been contacted for a statement regarding Merizaj’s online activity.
