The suspects are accused of detaining dozens of refugees, who were hoping to leave for Italy, at a camp in Libya. A number of victims told prosecutors that they were tortured and beaten by the suspects and that some of the migrants who were traveling with them died at the detention camp. 

Investigators believe the three men were in charge of running the detention camp of Zawyia, Libya, on behalf of a criminal organization. The refugees detained at the camp were released and allowed to travel to Italy only after they paid a ransom to the organization. 

The suspects face charges including criminal association with a view to human trafficking, sexual violence, torture, murder and kidnapping. They were arrested at a hotspot in Messina and have been identified as Mohammed Condè, known as Suarez, from Guinea, 27; Hameda Ahmed, a 26-year-old Egyptian citizen; and Mahmoud Ashuia, 24, also from Egypt. 

Some of the victims reached Lampedusa on July 7 aboard migrant rescue ship Mediterranea. They recognized the suspects from mugshots they were shown by police. Italian investigators show photos of migrants who have previously landed in Italy in order to identify human traffickers. The suspects traveled to the country a few months before their victims, investigative sources said. 

Condè was allegedly in charge of abducting and then detaining refugees and demanding the payment of a ransom to their families. Victims were reportedly allowed to continue their trip only after the payment of a ransom. Condè gave refugees a cell phone to call their families and ask for money, investigators said. 

Ahmed and Ashuia are suspected to have been the prison guards, the sources said. Victims said they were tortured and abused by both men.