United Kingdom imposes sanctions on Balkan gangs involved in human trafficking and smuggling

(Patria) - The UK government is disrupting a key route for illegal migration to the UK by sanctioning criminal groups exploiting the Western Balkan route, as well as financiers who provide equipment for small boats.

The targets are criminal gangs from the Balkans that sell fake passports and a secret financial network that provides boat engines, the UK Foreign Office announced today.

These sanctions represent the latest example of cooperation with Western Balkan countries in combating organised crime linked to migration, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer convenes European leaders in London.

Gang members and shadow financiers enabling human trafficking, including a Kosovo-based passport forgery network, are banned from travelling to the UK and are excluded from the British financial system as part of the government's crackdown on gangs exploiting a key transit route for illegal migration.

Today's sanctions limit their options for smuggling people into the UK and demonstrate the UK Government's determination to publicly expose anyone supporting this human trafficking, regardless of where in the world they are located.

Naming and shaming these individuals makes it harder for them to operate further. Naming and publicly shaming these individuals, who benefit from remaining anonymous, makes it harder for them to operate further, the statement said.

This announcement comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts the Western Balkans Summit in London, bringing together leaders from the Western Balkans and other European countries to discuss regional cooperation, illegal migration, European security, and economic development.

- There is a criminal route through the Western Balkans that brings illegal migrants to the UK, and we are determined to close it through cooperation with European partners.

Our joint efforts have already halved the number of irregular border crossings and reduced arrivals of Albanians by small boats by 95%.

Through the new Joint Migration Taskforce, British drones, and tougher sanctions, we are confronting smuggling gangs at every stage to put them out of business and ensure security for working people – says Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper points out that the Western Balkans is a major transit route for ruthless gangs smuggling people and trading in human suffering.

- Our world-leading sanctions regime is a key tool in pursuing gangs operating beyond our borders and exposing the networks that support them. Working with our partners in the region, we are taking decisive action to secure our borders and strengthen security at home – Cooper stated.

Today's sanctions represent the latest step in the UK government's and its partners' crackdown on criminal networks fuelling illegal migration to the UK.

These measures have led to a significant drop in the number of migrants recorded by Frontex as passing through the Western Balkans – from over 140,000 in 2022 to just over 21,000 in 2024.

Today, with the support of the Kosovo authorities, the targets of sanctions are the Krasniqi forgery network, a criminal group from Kosovo that operated a sophisticated laboratory for producing fake documents.

Nusret Seferović has also been sanctioned, whose gang provided fake Croatian passports to criminal groups in the Balkans.

The UK will further sanction several international financiers for their role in supporting human smugglers, including ALPA Trading FZCO, a company that launders money for smuggling gangs.

In addition to sanctions, the UK Foreign Office is working with other countries to deter potential migrants from taking dangerous routes, and is working with the Home Office to negotiate the return of individuals with no right to remain in the UK – including criminals and failed asylum seekers – to their home countries.

Earlier this month, the Foreign Secretary announced an investment of £10 million to combat human trafficking across the Western Balkans and other regions of the world.

These funds will support a range of initiatives, including better law enforcement training in Kosovo, enhanced border security measures, and expanded support services for individuals at risk of human trafficking in Serbia.

Criminal groups and gang leaders from the Balkans - Krasniqi network

An organised criminal group based in Kosovo, responsible for producing fake documents and distributing them to criminal gangs.

The group produced fake passports, identity cards, and driving licences for over 50 countries, including the UK, using a sophisticated forgery laboratory.

Members include:
• Burim Krasniqi, leader of the Krasniqi network;
• Arif Krasniqi, a broker who found clients for their services;
• Flamur Krasniqi, a group member found with forged documents;
• Valon Krasniqi, participated in the creation of forged documents;
• Sami Duriqi, participated in the creation of forged documents;
• Granit Avdyli, participated in the creation of documents and advertising the group's services;
• Nexhmije Selmani, provided premises for forgery and participated in the procurement of equipment;
• Endrit Ermellahu, participated in the creation of forged documents; and
• Shkembim Ermellahu, a group member found with forged documents.

Nusret Seferović is the leader of a Croatian criminal group that provided fake Croatian passports to Balkan gangs for easier entry into European countries.

He identified Croatian citizens who had not collected their documents and used their identities to obtain fake passports.

These passports were then sold to organised criminal groups, including the Škaljari and Kavač, which have already been sanctioned under the UK's Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime.

International financiers of human smuggling - ALPA network

A network involved in the illicit financing of human smuggling gangs – sanctioned today:
• ALPA Trading FZCO, a company within the ALPA network, used for money laundering and procuring small boat parts for smuggling gangs;
• Ali Derakhshan, oversees the daily operations of companies within the ALPA network, including money transfers and the procurement of small boat parts;
• Vahid Derakhshan, involved in the financial activities of the ALPA network.

Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime

Launched in July 2025, the Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime is the world's first specialised sanctions regime aimed at combating irregular migration and immigration-related organised crime.

United Kingdom Sanctions List

Today's sanctions represent the second package under the Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime.

The first package, announced in July 2025, included the sanctioning of 25 individuals and entities linked to human smuggling, including gang leaders and facilitators across the Western Balkans, Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

Asset Freezing

Asset freezing prevents any UK national or any UK-based firm from dealing with funds or economic resources owned, controlled, or held by a sanctioned person.

British financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial waters of the UK, as well as to all British nationals, regardless of where they are in the world.

It also prohibits the provision of funds or economic resources to or for the benefit of a sanctioned person.

Travel Ban

A travel ban means that a sanctioned person must be refused entry to, or removed from, the United Kingdom, provided that person is excluded under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.

Director Disqualification

When director disqualification sanctions are applied, the sanctioned person is legally prohibited from acting as a company director or participating in the management, formation, or promotion of a UK company.