Criminals in Albania are using social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to showcase their illegal business dealings, including the cultivation of cannabis. Brothers Aleks and Dor Visha, who have a large following on TikTok, boast about their huge cannabis farms in the UK and share videos of their operations. They also post videos of violent robberies and wanted posters, which have enticed others to try to enter the UK illegally in search of a similar lifestyle. Dr. Alexandros K. Antoniou of the University of Essex believes that social media facilitates real-world crime and express concern that these influencers might be encouraging unlawful or harmful activities, especially among younger audiences.
Several young people in Albania have been influenced by the videos posted by criminals on social media and are tempted to make the journey to the UK. 19-year-old student Rafaela Xhaja mentioned that she has seen videos of cannabis houses and the transportation process from Albania to England, which has influenced some youth to consider paying thousands of euros to work in cannabis houses in the UK. According to a local from Tirana named Loku, the videos on social media convinced him to attempt to cross the Channel into the UK, although his initial attempts were unsuccessful. The National Crime Agency and the Home Office in the UK are actively collaborating with global partners, including Albania, to identify and disrupt organized crime groups and protect the public from serious and organized crime.
Tech companies like Meta, which owns Instagram, and TikTok have been criticized for their role in allowing the promotion of criminal activities on their platforms. The Home Office expects these companies to swiftly remove illegal content, especially related to the sale of drugs online. Meta has stated that buying, selling, or soliciting drugs is not allowed on their platforms, and they employ a mix of technology and human review to monitor and remove such content. TikTok works closely with UK law enforcement and organizations like STOP THE TRAFFIK to address the issue of human exploitation and remove content related to illegal activities. The companies are also promoting measures to combat people smuggling and human trafficking on their platforms.
The Online Safety Act in the UK will introduce measures for social media platforms to identify and take down content related to drug sales. Tech companies are actively working with law enforcement and organizations to combat the promotion of illegal activities on their platforms. Meta has been working with industry experts to tackle the issue of people smuggling for a number of years, and they remove content that coordinates illegal activities. TikTok has reduced the number of small boat crossings in the UK through their efforts to combat human exploitation and swiftly remove violating content on their platform. The companies are dedicated to maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to illegal activities and ensuring a safe online environment for users.
The use of social media platforms by criminals to promote their illegal activities is a growing concern, with influencers like the Visha brothers showcasing their wealth and criminal operations. These influencers are often targeting younger audiences and potentially encouraging them to engage in unlawful activities. The government agencies and tech companies are working together to address this issue by implementing stricter measures to remove illegal content and collaborating with law enforcement to tackle organized crime networks. It is essential to continue monitoring and regulating social media platforms to protect vulnerable individuals, especially young people, from being influenced by criminal activities promoted online.
