Shembim ERMELLAHU

Asset freeze, travel ban and director disqualification sanction

The Secretary of State considers that there are reasonable grounds to suspect Shkembim ERMELLAHU is an involved person under the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025 ('the Regulations') on the basis of the following grounds: (1) He is or has been involved in a relevant activity, namely people smuggling. By producing forged documents, he has been involved in facilitating the unlawful entry into a country of individuals who are not a national of that country or permanently resident in it with a view to obtaining any gain or benefit. Specifically, he facilitated people smuggling as a member of the KRASNIQI network. The KRASNIQI network created a sophisticated forgery laboratory in Kosovo with equipment to produce false or fraudulently alter 'real' passports, identification cards and driving licences for over 50 countries including the United Kingdom. (2) He is or has been involved in a relevant activity, namely people smuggling, by profiting financially from the unlawful entry into a country of individuals who are not a national of that country or permanently resident in it. Specifically, he profited from people smuggling as a member of the KRASNIQI network. The KRASNIQI network created a sophisticated forgery laboratory in Kosovo with equipment to produce false or fraudulently alter 'real' passports, identification cards and driving licences for over 50 countries including the United Kingdom.

The Secretary of State considers that there are reasonable grounds to suspect Shkembim ERMELLAHU is an involved person under the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025 ("the Regulations") on the basis of the following grounds: (1) He is or has been involved in a relevant activity, namely people smuggling. By producing forged documents, he has been involved in facilitating the unlawful entry into a country of individuals who are not a national of that country or permanently resident in it with a view to obtaining any gain or benefit. Specifically, he facilitated people smuggling as a member of the KRASNIQI network. The KRASNIQI network created a sophisticated forgery laboratory in Kosovo with equipment to produce false or fraudulently alter "real" passports, identification cards and driving licences for over 50 countries including the United Kingdom. (2) He is or has been involved in a relevant activity, namely people smuggling, by profiting financially from the unlawful entry into a country of individuals who are not a national of that country or permanently resident in it. Specifically, he profited from people smuggling as a member of the KRASNIQI network. The KRASNIQI network created a sophisticated forgery laboratory in Kosovo with equipment to produce false or fraudulently alter "real" passports, identification cards and driving licences for over 50 countries including the United Kingdom.

Programme GB-SAMLAReference 17211Reference GIM0039Last updated 22 Oct 2025gov.uk