An Albanian national who entered the UK illegally has shared how his experience became “unbearable” after being forced to work on a cannabis farm.
Gzim, who wished to remain anonymous, was among more than 12,600 Albanians who crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2022—the peak year for such journeys.
However, following joint efforts by the UK and Albanian governments, the number of Albanians making the perilous crossing fell to just 616 in 2023.
Gzim is speaking out to caution others as the UK government reintroduces a social media campaign aimed at warning Albanian migrants about the potential difficulties of illegal entry.
He recounted how he found a smuggler via TikTok who agreed to facilitate his journey.
After travelling to France by bus, he arrived in Dunkirk, where he boarded a small boat bound for Dover. His cousins, already in the UK, paid £3,500 to the smuggler for his passage.
Initially placed in a hotel, Gzim managed to leave unnoticed and was soon working on a cannabis farm.
“I wanted a better life, to support my family, like so many others who made this journey,” he explained. “I understood the risks of this kind of work, but I hoped I wouldn’t be unlucky.”
However, after the cannabis farm was raided, he received no payment. He then transitioned into construction work, where he was forced to accept lower wages—insufficient to sustain himself and send money home.
Just five months after arriving, Gzim found his situation so “unbearable” that he chose to return to Albania.
“I had dreams of something different. I hoped I would succeed,” he said. “Nobody wants to leave their homeland, their people, and their friends. But in Albania, survival is a battle, and I felt I had no other option.”
The UK government’s latest social media campaign highlights stories of migrants who entered illegally, only to face debt and exploitation. This strategy was initially launched in 2023 under the Conservative government.
It follows a cooperation agreement between the UK and Albania, aimed at reducing illegal migration. Even before this agreement, the number of small boat crossings had begun to decline.
The National Crime Agency attributed the drop to several factors, including law enforcement action, deportations, reduced demand for UK travel, and migrants shifting to other routes.
In 2023, over 2,600 individuals were returned to Albania—more than from any other nationality.
