Sources said the man, Reuben Galea, has now been handed over to the police who are expected to charge him in court with helping illegal immigrants to flee the country.

Galea was found in the company of three Chinese and two Libyan men when he was first spotted by the fishing vessel. It is understood that his boat’s engine had failed and Galea and the five immigrants were stranded in the open sea.

The AFM Search and Rescue team had been searching for Galea since Monday, when his family reported him missing after he failed to return to land.

Galea was said to have departed from the north of Malta in his 25-foot speedboat equipped with a V8 engine, described by enthusiasts as “extremely powerful”, on Saturday evening. Investigations have revealed that he intended to proceed to Sicily with his yellow and maroon craft. After discovering the five illegal immigrants on board, the theory that he was going to Sicily was confirmed.

Wednesday’s SAR operation was suspended at 7.50pm and was due to recommence yesterday morning. However, at about 5am, there was an important development: the AFM were informed that a local fishing vessel, the Ave Maria, had encountered a speed craft drifting approximately 68 nautical miles south-southeast of Delimara Point.

The AFM were told that the occupant of the speed craft, who was reported missing on Monday, was taken on board. Galea and the illegal immigrants were described as being in good health but investigations are still being carried out to establish exactly what had happened.

Immigration police, together with those of the Criminal Investigations Department, are questioning Galea, who is to be charged in court in the next few days, sources told this newspaper.