A Siracusa councillor, who represents the Partito Democratico, was arrested by Sicilian police on Friday after he was caught about to embark on the catamaran to Malta with 20 kilogrammes of drugs, Italian media report.

The councillor, Antonio Bonafede, 31, was caught with two other accomplices, Salvatore Mauceri, 32, and Antonio Genova, 44.

The police seized 16 kilogrammes of marijuana and more than three kilos of hashish, Italian media report.

The Partito Democratico has suspended Bonafede.