Vincenzo Locorotondo, 34, was arrested by Italian police as soon as he disembarked from the catamaran which had left from Malta on Monday, Italian media report.

The man had been on the anti-mafia police radar as part of their investigations which earlier this month had led to the arrests of 40 other persons. They are being investigated for their mafia associations, use of weapons, murder attempts, hold-ups and extortion.

The Italian media report that Locototondo had been wanted by the police for the past 20 days, and once it was ascertained that he was on the catamaran from Malta, police in plainclothes approached him and arrested him upon his arrival in Pozzallo.

The Italian media said that it is not known why Locorotondo was in Malta.