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Albanian Man Jailed for Two Years After Hiding in Trailer Bound for Nissan Plant Ahead of Fifth Removal

Officials say the case reflects shifting smuggling methods that exploit private marinas as well as sealed freight.

Overview

  • Newcastle Crown Court on January 13 jailed Romeo Zani for breaching an indefinite deportation order, with Recorder Nicholas Worsley saying he will be removed from the UK for a fifth time.
  • He was discovered on December 12 in a sealed trailer of mechanical parts destined for Nissan’s Sunderland factory after entering via Belgium.
  • Prosecutors said he paid about £5,000 to smugglers and told authorities he feared for his life in Albania.
  • Zani was previously found on a yacht near Falmouth in April 2025, convicted of a breach and later removed for a fourth time after a 12-month sentence.
  • His record includes a 2018 Bristol Crown Court conviction for identity fraud, drug conspiracy and money laundering, and his 2024 asylum claim was refused before a third removal.