Gezim Troka, 50, was convicted in absentia by an Albanian court in 2008 for using violence and threats to force his partner into sex work in Greece and Italy during the 1990s and early 2000s. An international arrest warrant was issued shortly after, but Troka managed to enter the UK using false documents.
Arrest, Detention and Court Battles
Troka remained under the radar until 2018, when he was arrested for common assault. Following his conviction, immigration officials discovered his fugitive status and approved Albania’s extradition request.
Despite losing his initial appeal, Troka dragged his case through multiple courts, taking it all the way to the High Court. Judges dismissed his final bid to remain in Britain in 2021, yet Troka is still in the UK due to ongoing delays and legal disputes over deportation.
On 2 August 2024, a judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court granted him unconditional bail, meaning Troka is free to move around with no restrictions, despite his criminal record.
A History of Exploitation
Court documents reveal that Troka began a relationship with a woman in 1994 while living in Fier, Albania. The couple later travelled illegally to Athens, where Troka physically and psychologically abused her, forcing her into prostitution and pocketing her earnings.
They later moved to Rome and Padua, where the exploitation continued. Troka was finally arrested in Italy in 1995 and sentenced to 16 months in prison for exploitation and favouring prostitution, though he served only part of his sentence before resuming his activities.
Albanian Crime Networks in the UK
An expert on Albanian organised crime told the Daily Mail that Troka’s case reflects a wider issue:
“In the late 1990s, Albanians in Italy learned how the Italian mafia controlled street prostitution. They began trafficking Albanian girls to Italy and Greece under false pretences and forcing them into sex work. By the 2000s, they expanded into the UK, taking over parts of Soho and opening brothels using victims from Albania and Eastern Europe.”
Home Office Silence and Public Outrage
Despite growing public pressure, the Home Office has refused to confirm whether Troka will be extradited.
Robert Bates, from the Centre for Migration Control, condemned the handling of the case:
“This situation shows how soft Britain’s borders have become. This man is clearly not conducive to the public good, and his continued presence in our country is an insult.”
