The Spanish vessel immediately sailed to the port of Catania, where the two suspects, of Libyan nationality, were handed over to the Italian judicial authorities on 21 July. The courts sent them to prison, together with a third individual, of Senegalese nationality, who was guiding the migrant craft, who was accused of smuggling immigrants.
The two alleged traffickers were arrested without struggle, after the rescue teams of the 'Reina Sofia' had provided first aid to the 362 emigrants in four separate rescue operations.
The operations commenced when a maritime patrol aircraft from Luxembourg, the 'Merlin III', also assigned to the European Union Naval Force in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED), detected the speedboat towing a vessel with emigrants on-board, off the coast of the Libyan town of Sabratha.
After radioing in the information, the command centre of Operation Sophia ordered an AB212 helicopter from the Italian aircraft-carrier, 'Garibaldi' - the current operation flagship - and the Spanish vessel, to set sail at full speed to the zone, to both rescue the emigrants and to locate and intercept the suspicious vessel.
The helicopter on-board the Spanish vessel took off and subsequently provided air security coverage to the frigate's assault teams, which intercepted and detained the suspects.
This is the second action in 10 days carried out by personnel of EUNAVFOR MED against people suspected of the illegal trafficking of emigrants.
Under Operation Sophia, 78 people have been arrested and tried by the Italian authorities suspected of people trafficking and 213 craft used for smuggling have been captured. More than 20,300 lives have been saved at sea.
The frigate 'Reina Sofía' has rescued a total of 1,898 migrants since the start of its participation in this operation on 24 May, which contributes to the fight against people trafficking mafias and thus helps prevent the loss of life in the Central Mediterranean.
Pool Moncloa