Italy arrests ‘brain’ behind migrant trafficking between Malta and Sicily

After two years of investigations following the arrest of three Maltese nationals caught transporting migrants from Malta to Sicily on powerful boats, Italian prosecutors received on extradition from France, 24 year old Adam Kunati who will face a number of charges over conspiracy to human trafficking.

5 August 2011, 12:00am
by Karl Stagno-Navarra

1 min read

Adam Kunati was extradited by France in response to a European Arrest Warrant issued by magistrates in Ragusa, Sicily. He was arrested as part of a wide-ranging investigation code-named ‘Double Impact’ that was widened to France last September.

Investigations were started in 2009 when Italian police arrested three Maltese: Joseph Xerri, 45m Kurt Buhagiar 27, and Michael Aquilina 39. The three were caught on board a very fast speedboat that had just transported a number of migrants from Malta.

All three are serving prison terms in Sicily, while further investigations established that Adam Kunati was the alleged ‘brain’ and intermediary in Malta who brought the migrants over to the Maltese traffickers and kept a percentage of the payments made.

Kunati had subsequently fled Malta to France where he was arrested and extradited.

More from Karl Stagno-Navarra

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Illegal Immigration is to be condemned at all costs. most of these so called immigrants are nothing else but runaway thugs and illicit smugglers. I am not against helping out these nations.but not in this manner. first of all any attempts by illegal immigrants to reach European shores should be hindered by all possible means. we have to help these immigrants in their own countries. by providing first of proper education and training. grant them scholarships to learn skills and enhance their education. and send them back to get their democracy in order, no west nation has any right to dominate these countries.

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This is human traffcking and is against EU laws. These people should get the maximum and no maltese lawyers should be able to get away with getting these guys off the hook. Maltese lawyers are known for their sneakiness and get criminals off with no jailtime and get paid big money for doing so.

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This is only the tip of the iceberg - it is only a small percentage that are caught who knows how many illegal immigrants arrive without being cought with some remaining in Malta and others cross over to Scicly and then Europe etc. Malta is a small Island and very loosly guarded. The only visible are the dark coloured people who are on the increase on our roads. Just take a walk anywhere in Maltra and especially in Gozo, construction sits, garbage etc etc etc.

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How about catching those organizing human trafficking between Libya and Tunis. Blaming this on the war in Libya does not hold any water when one considers that the majority of boats intercepted are well organized even equipped with sat equipment.

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May these also rot in prison! No wonder they live the life style they live. It should become law for people who live a very lavish lifestyle for no apparent reason to be investigated! There are so many of them around us!