Updated | Ministry denies Maltese's involvement in Salerno arrests

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied reports in the Italian media reporting arrests involving Maltese nationals, saying the Italian press reports were wrong.

"The Maltese embassy in Italy has checked and the Italian press report was not correct. No Maltese nationals were involved in yesterday's arrests," a spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry said later on in the evening.

According to the Italian media, a total of 31 arrests were made in Salerno on Thursday in a crackdown on a criminal organisation. Investigations revealed that the alleged smuggling of diesel and tobacco products involved a Europe-wide network, with people and companies based in Malta, Austria, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Cyprus. Italy was the final destination.

Contacted by MaltaToday, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the ministry was not informed of any arrests involving Maltese citizens.

“We are not informed about this case. But now that we are aware of it, the Embassy of Italy is seeking information,” a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Police investigation into ‘Operation Gasoline’, as has been dubbed by the Italian media, has been going on for over a year with “the constant and active cooperation” of the judicial authorities of the European countries concerned.

Eurojust, the EU agency dealing with judicial cooperation in criminal matters, was also involved in the investigations.

It appears that the contraband diesel was imported in Italy as lubricants, saving the importers some €4 million in taxes.

Investigations by the police included wiretapping and months of observation.

It is estimated that 450kg of imported contraband cigarettes were seized. 

The amount of contraband of fuel and tobacco products was as such to distort the market, the Italian media reported.