Bangladeshi among Mediterranean human trafficking suspects

A Bangladeshi national is suspected of helping to organise the boat crossing that left around 200 people in the waters between Malta and Sicily, where they were rescued more than 10 days ago, according to a newspaper report.

The Local wrote on Monday that four of the 140 people brought to Sicily on the Italian coastguard ship Diciotti were detained on suspicion of involvement in human trafficking.

The rest onboard were reportedly allowed to disembark.

Media reports said the migrants, mostly from Eritrea, were given permission to come ashore early on Sunday after a five-day standoff between the Italian government and the EU, UN refugee agency and aid organisations.

As the rest of the group headed to a shelter on Sunday evening, the Italian police detained three Egyptians and one Bangladeshi national who were suspected to have helped the boat journey.

According to Ansa news agency, the four are accused of criminal association for the purposes of human trafficking, aiding illegal immigration, illegal entry by procurement, and sexual violence.

Under a deal brokered by the Catholic Church, Catholic authorities in Italy will take responsibility for 100 of the migrants, with the remaining 40 or so distributed between Ireland and Albania.

According to Pope Francis, the Church will receive the group at its Mondo Migliore ('Better World') reception centre in Rocca di Papa, south of Rome, where they will "start to learn the language and become integrated migrants", said the report.