The UK has deported "46 foreign criminals and immigration offenders" to Vietnam East Timor on a charter flight, the Home Office announced in a statement on Thursday (July 25).

The operation marks the UK's first-ever charter returns flight to East Timor and the first to Vietnam since 2022.

The deportation follows the Home Secretary's recent announcement to replace flight planning for Rwanda with flights aimed at "returning foreign criminals and immigration offenders who have no right to remain" in the UK to their home countries.

The new Labour government announced the scrapping of the former government's Rwanda plans when it took office in early July.

The flight arrived in East Timor on Thursday, successfully transporting the individuals. 

UK pledges commitment to deporting individuals 'without the right to remain'

The recent charter flight deporting the 46 individuals "highlights the government's commitment to expanding its returns ability for individuals without the right to remain in the UK," the Home Office stated, adding that the deportation also aims to strengthen "relationships with partner nations in a shared mission to end irregular migration."

Vietnam has recently accounted for one of the top nationalities crossing the Channel in small boats, according to the UK government.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised the charter flight and the government for "taking quick and decisive action to secure our borders and return those with no right to be here." Cooper thanked the governments of Vietnam and East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste for their co-operation.

"Our strong diplomatic bonds with other countries have never been more crucial to our mission to bring order back into the asylum and immigration system, tackling irregular migration, and making sure the rules are properly respected and enforced."

Also read: Behind the surge in Vietnamese Channel crossings to the UK

Members of British migrant smuggler ring sentenced to jail

Coinciding with the deportation, a British people-smuggling ring, including a brother and sister, was sentenced to jail on the same day for attempting to transport two Vietnamese migrants in a concealed compartment of their campervan.

The siblings, Natalie S. and Alan S., along with Casey L. and Charlotte S., have been sentenced following a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court for their involvement in a smuggling operation.

On July 19, 2020, Border Force officers conducted a search of a campervan in Coquelles, France, which was en route to the UK. During the inspection, authorities discovered two Vietnamese nationals hidden beneath a bed in the vehicle.

The campervan was driven by Natalie S., with Charlotte S. as the passenger. Both individuals were arrested at the scene.

Further investigation led to the identification of additional suspects, including Alan S., Casey L., and Benjamin T., who were also involved in the smuggling ring.

At trial, Alan S. was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, while Casey L. received a four and a half-year sentence. Both were found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law.

Natalie S. and Charlotte S. were both sentenced to two years, suspended sentence. Natalie S. was also ordered to undergo electronic monitoring and pay a £500 (about 592 euros) fine. Both pled guilty. Benjamin T., who had previously pleaded guilty, is scheduled for a separate sentencing hearing at a later date. 

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