The UK government sent 20 foreign offenders to Albania on a charter aeroplane yesterday (Thursday, August 11).
Two people with rejected asylum petitions as well as a person who overstayed their visa and entered the UK unlawfully were also expelled.
This includes a person who entered the country erroneously in March using a tiny boat.
The foreign national offenders who were expelled were convicted of offences such as possession with intent to distribute class A narcotics, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and manufacture of a class B substance.
They had each earned jail terms totaling more than 46 years.
On this flight’s return trip to Albania, the following people:
- an individual sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and possession with intent to supply class A drugs
- an individual sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to supply class A drugs
- an individual sentenced to over five years’ imprisonment for conspiring/supplying class B controlled drugs
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
These criminals have violated our laws and our values, and we will stop at nothing to remove those with no right to be here. They are responsible for appalling offences including involvement in the supply of class A drugs, which has a devastating impact on people, their families and our communities.
Since 2021, we have removed nearly 1,000 Albanian foreign national offenders, including some who crossed the Channel illegally to come to the UK.
The British public should be in no doubt of my determination to make our streets safer by continuing to remove foreign criminals. Our new Nationality and Borders Act will help end the cycle of last-minute claims and appeals that can delay removals.
This is a regular element of the calendar of removals from the UK and returns to a variety of nations.
243 foreign national criminals were expelled from the UK in July 2022 through charter and regular aircraft.
The UK has expelled 10,741 foreign national offenders since January 2019 (to year ending December 2021).
The Nationality and Borders Act will destroy the financial model of people-smuggling networks, prevent unlawful entrance into the UK, and expedite the expulsion of individuals who have no right to be there.