A convict serving time in a UK facility managed to earn $20,000 in just seven minutes through a TikTok broadcast from his cell, prompting authorities to transfer him to an Albanian facility.
Eugert Merizaj, a 32-year-old Albanian national, was sentenced to 32 years in 2022 for his involvement in the 2019 m*rder of rival dealer Hemawand Ali Hussein in Hartlepool, County Durham.
While Merizaj didn’t pull the trigger, he helped plan the attack and purchased an axe used to lure Hussein, who was ultimately wounded with a shotg*n.
Despite being behind bars, Merizaj found creative ways to maintain his social media presence. Using drones and other methods, he regularly obtained phones costing $2,000 each and began posting content from his cell.
His early posts featured him vaping, wearing designer clothing including Dolce & Gabbana trainers, and complaining about UK food quality.
What started as simple photo posts evolved into something far more lucrative. Beginning in August 2023, Merizaj launched daily TikTok broadcasts, initially earning around $10 per five-minute session. However, his most recent seven-minute broadcast changed everything when viewers donated approximately $20,000 worth of virtual gifts, including roses and other TikTok features.
To put this in perspective, popular influencer Pinky Doll reportedly earned up to $100,000 during peak days, but those sessions lasted six to eight hours. Merizaj’s earning rate was extraordinary by any standard.
The prisoner had repeatedly requested transfer to Albania to be closer to family and escape what he called terrible UK food. He expressed frustration about speaking English and questioned why authorities wouldn’t deport him despite his rule-breaking. In one deleted clip from August 2025, he told viewers that prisoners serving life sentences weren’t being moved at all.
Prison officials acknowledged the situation was unacceptable. TikTok stated they would prohibit accounts used from facilities but relied on prison authorities to report which accounts belonged to incarcerated individuals.
The prison service claimed phones aren’t tolerated and rule-breakers face tough punishment, including additional time. However, Merizaj continued broadcasting for roughly two years before significant action was taken.
The turning point came after his $20,000 windfall. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson quickly announced they had taken immediate action to remove his posts and were urgently investigating.
Authorities finally granted his wish, transferring him to Albania to complete his sentence. His most recent account, which had accumulated 45,000 followers, has been permanently banned.
