At least 1,700 serious organized criminals from Albania are walking free in Britain, according to the Daily Mail.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) have requested records on each of the suspects from authorities in Albania in a bid to bring them to justice.
It is believed that all the suspects arrived in the UK illegally in small boats and trucks.
The figure came to light as Home Secretary James Cleverley met Albanian Interior Minister Taulant Bala last week to discuss tackling illegal immigration and serious organised crime.
An insider said: “UK police requested records on 1,700 Albanian immigrants suspected of being serious organised criminals, which Albanian police readily provided. Albanian police requested data on all nationals convicted of crimes in the UK so they could start seizing illicit gains such as assets, cash, jewellery and vehicles in Albania.”
Earlier this year, drug lord Denis Xhelili, 38, an Albanian immigrant, was sentenced to ten years in prison for plotting to import thousands of kilograms of cocaine and heroin into the UK.
The Home Office said the UK and Albania wanted to target "illegal financing, corruption, drugs and organised migration crime".
