Caltanissetta, “Open Sea” operation to aid illegal immigration

Caltanissetta, “Open Sea” operation to aid illegal immigration.

The State Police of Caltanissetta, coordinated by the local Public Prosecutor's Office - District Anti-Mafia Directorate, is carrying out 18 personal precautionary custody orders, 12 in prison and 6 under house arrest, ordered by the Judge for Preliminary Investigations of the Court of Caltanissetta, by association for crimes aimed at aiding and abetting illegal immigration.

120 policemen from the Caltanissetta Flying Squad, the Niscemi Police Station, the Crime Prevention and Dog Unit Department and the Palermo Flight Department were involved in the operation from the first light of dawn.

The criminal association, promoted by a man and a woman of Tunisian origins, with various strategic points located in several Sicilian centres, would have used small boats, equipped with powerful outboard engines and operated by expert smugglers, who would have operated in the stretch of sea between Tunisia and the provinces of Caltanissetta, Trapani and Agrigento, quickly reaching the Italian coasts with the "load" of migrants.

The per capita price, paid in cash in Tunisia before departure, would have been between 3000 and 5000 euros; the alleged profit of the criminal organization, therefore, would be between 30.000 and 70.000 euros for each trip.