Two Ukrainians accused of smuggling irregular migrants on board a yacht and dropping them off in Sicily were extradited from Malta to Italy yesterday, according to Italian press reports.

The pair had reportedly been located in Maltese waters on board a yacht by a Frontex aircraft after landing 41 irregular migrants of various nationalities on the Sicilian island of Portopalo di Capo Passero on 29 May. They were later intercepted by the Maltese authorities who searched the yacht and apprehended the Ukrainians.

A European Arrest Warrant had been filed and was followed by an extradition order, which was seen through yesterday morning the Italian press reported.

According to the charges, the Ukrainians had brought the migrants to Sicily from Turkey.

Earlier this year, Turkey-based smugglers began re-advertising trips between Turkey and Italy. In an advert on Facebook last May, smugglers offered places for US$4,000 per person.

Since the beginning of the year, the Sicilian authorities have registered 125 migrants who have arrived on yachts and sailboats, mostly piloted by Ukrainian skippers, a lucrative and growing trend.

Italian authorities say that more than 2,000 have made the trip since the beginning of 2016.

"It is likely that the organization is made up of Turks who use professional Ukrainian skippers, traditionally skilled, for the crossing," Francesco Paolo Giordano, the chief prosecutor in Syracuse in charge of the investigations, said earlier this year.

The multi-million pound operation sees the gangs - believed to be former members of the Ukrainian army - charge thousands for the journey which takes three or four days.

According to reports, migrants are taken to Izmir on Turkey's Aegean coast before sailing via Malta or Sicily, sometimes picking up more passengers in Greece.