The Italian press has reported that a Maltese man was extradited to Italy on Friday to face charges of smuggling Chinese nationals by speedboat to Italy via Malta, where they were supposedly receiving English language tuition.

The man, identified as 48-year-old Anthony Muscat from Sliema, is accused of having illegally brought Chinese nationals, purportedly in Malta to follow English language courses, to shore near Ragusa. It is alleged that he formed part of a criminal ring that smuggled Chinese into Italy between July 2004 and January 2005.

The ring was uncovered during an operation, codenamed 'Marco Polo’ and a total of 14 suspects of Maltese, Chinese and Palestinian nationality have been identified by the Italian authorities.  They allege that Chinese nationals, on study visas in Malta and as part of an organised operation, were brought from Malta to the Ragusa coast by speedboat.

The Maltese courts, acting on the issue of a European Arrest Warrant, approved the extradition to Italy and Mr Muscat was brought by Italian Interpol agents to Italy on Friday to face charges of complicity with the criminal gang.