Albanian kingpin, 39, who smuggled millions of pounds of cocaine into Britain could be freed from prison early in transfer deal to tackle overcrowding crisis

An Albanian drug lord who smuggled millions of kilos of cocaine into Britain could be released early under a transfer deal aimed at easing the prison overcrowding crisis.

Erald Mema, 39, was jailed for 25 years in 2018 for his role in a “massive” Class A drug smuggling operation.

But now it has become Albanian crime The boss could be released early after being transferred to a prison in his home country – where he would even be given access to a room for conjugal visits.

Mema is one of almost 40 of Albania’s most dangerous criminals convicted in Britain and selected to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home country under a transfer deal.

The scheme will see Albania take back its criminals in return for more than £4 million from Britain and is aimed at easing pressure on Britain’s overcrowded prisons.

Mema was convicted at Oxford Crown Court in 2018 of running an organized crime group that the judge said “profited enormously from a massive drugs operation”.

Erald Mema, 39, was jailed for 25 years in 2018 for his role in a ‘massive’ Class A drug smuggling operation

Earlier this year he was transferred to a high-security prison in Albania under the transfer deal that allows 200 Albanian murderers, rapists and drug lords to serve their sentences in the country.

Under the deal, sentences imposed on criminals in Britain should be brought into line with Albania’s penal policy, which only carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years for drug dealers like Mema.

Had he remained in Britain, he would have been automatically released halfway through his 25-year sentence.

But now his transfer means he could serve 11 years or less if Albania’s equivalent of the parole board grants him freedom, his lawyer said.

The transfer program was launched to reduce the number of foreign offenders in British prisons as part of measures to tackle the overcrowding crisis, amid fears that prisons would run out of space.

More than 10,000 foreign offenders are currently in prison in England and Wales, while 1,323 Albanians are currently in custody, making them the largest contingent.

Britain is giving Albania 5 million euros to pay for prison renovations, extra security, workshops, rehabilitation equipment and training for prison staff.

This is in addition to €36.50 per day per prisoner for the entire duration of their sentence, with estimates suggesting it will cost £4 million per year if all 200 of the most dangerous Albanian prisoners are returned.

The Ministry of Justice says the deal will save taxpayers money as it costs almost £40,000 a year to house a prisoner in England and Wales.

The move is part of a wider push to deport Albanians jailed for crimes in Britain.

Under a separate agreement, Albanian criminals will also be released up to a year early and given a £1,500 resettlement grant if they agree to be deported and never return to Britain.

In Albania, prisoners can use marital chambers for up to four hours a month to spend time with their partners, unlike Britain where such visits are not allowed.

Albanian prison rules state: ‘Every prison must have a special facility for meetings with spouses.

“The extended visits are allowed for the convict who is married or cohabiting under the Family Act, after the woman has been screened from the police.”

Other benefits include weekly food and clothing parcels from family members, personal cooking facilities and up to seven days of good behavior leave.

The Justice Department says it does not comment on individual cases.