Italian police have arrested five people of Chinese origin who are said to have been involved in an organisation that allegedly arranged to bring irregular migrants to Malta en route to Italy, Alice Notizie and Capri News reported yesterday.

According to the reports, the arrests were made in Rome, Palermo, Catania, Avellino and Rovigo. Another arrest warrant was issued in respect of a Spanish resident and seven more are expected to be issued in respect of other European residents.

Officers of Ragusa State Police learnt that about 200 migrants with a regular visa that had been granted for study purposes had been brought to Malta on different occasions and had then been taken to Italy by motorboat, the Italian media reported.

The reports said that the organisation also had a base in China and on one particular occasion – 29 November, 2004 – two Chinese irregular migrants had died at sea while they were being taken to Donnalucata, in the province of Ragusa.