Lampedusa: Smuggler arrested and charged with migrant deaths and disappearances

La State Police, Guardia di Finanza , Coast Guard they executed a arrest order for a crime suspect, issued by the Prosecutor of the Republic of Agrigento, towards a citizen Egyptian.

The man is held responsible for the crime of death as a consequence of crimes related to illegal immigration, because he allegedly tried to illegally procure the entry into Italy of 51 migrants of different nationalities, arrived at Lampedusa on September 2nd, transporting them from the Libya on board of a small wooden vesselin precarious state of buoyancy and unsuitable for such a long crossing, exposing everyone to serious danger of life.

Furthermore, the arrested person is accused of having caused the death by asphyxiation of a migrant, forced into the hold of the vessel, and the another migrant falls into the sea, which is still dispersed.complex investigative activity was taken to Lampedusa by the staff of the Agrigento Flying Squad, from the Central Operative Serviceand SISCO of Palermoand Guardia di Finanza – Naval Operations Section of Lampedusa and Lampedusa Coast Guard.

Through the testimonies of the disembarked migrants it emerged that the suspect, during the boarding which took place in Libya, was already on board the boat and had led the vessel for the entire crossing, collaborating with two other unidentified subjectsThe man would also have managed the phases of boarding and accommodation of migrants a bank.

Le reckless and risky maneuvers committed by the suspect while driving the vessel would have further endangered the lives of passengers, some of which ended up in the sea after theengine shutdown and with the worsening of the weather and sea conditionsThe arrested person was taken to prison in Agrigento. The investigations are still ongoing and the criminal responsibilities of the suspect will be the subject of assessment in court.