SIR Keir Starmer has vowed to shut down the “criminal highway” through the Western Balkans that is flooding Britain with migrants.
The PM will today host leaders from the region to try to smash the smuggling gangs behind the surge in Channel crossings.
He told The Sun traffickers had built a criminal empire stretching across Europe that the UK must shut down.
Ministers hoped to unveil a deal for return hubs at the summit.
But a Government source said ministers first needed to drive down criminality and stabilise border security in the region.
The PM said: “There is a criminal highway leading through the Western Balkans, driving illegal migrants straight to the UK.
READ MORE ON MIGRANT CRISIS
“Our task is to shut it down and smash the gangs that run it.”
In a thinly veiled swipe at Nigel Farage, he said some had “thrown insults” at countries such as Albania instead of cooperating.
It was a reference to the Reform leader’s row with Albania PM Edi Rama.
Britain is now deploying drones at checkpoints across the Balkans to stop smugglers in their tracks.
Home Office officials say about a quarter of small boat arrivals travel through the Balkans.
