On May 22, Italian police on May 22 arrested two Iraqi nationals suspected of smuggling at Italy's Crotone port in the southern region of Calabria after 65 migrants arrived on the same day.

The migrants were assisted by medical personnel and taken to a regional hub on Isola Capo Rizzuto for identification procedures.

Signal launched by one of the alleged smugglers

The investigation to identify those behind the transfer from Turkey to the Calabrian coasts aimed to reconstruct the phases as well as ways of transfer and the disembarkation itself.

Investigators focused in particular on an analysis of cell phones recovered from the migrants. In one, one of the alleged smugglers is seen shooting a signal to attract the attention of vessels nearby.

Accusation backed by accounts given by some migrants

Later, having gathered evidence against them, the charges were allegedly corroborated by the accounts provided by some of the migrants, who confirmed the identity of the smugglers as those who steered the boat during the journey from Turkey.

The vessel used for the journey was later recovered on the beaches of Strongoli and seized by the Crotone port authorities.

After the investigation was completed, the two alleged smugglers were taken to jail.