Police stop 18 trafficking suspects

(ANSA) - Rome, July 13 - Italian police in various operations as of Monday have stopped a total of 18 people suspected of human trafficking, two of whom are accused of manslaughter.
    Operations began last Saturday in Palermo, following the landing of the Italian Navy ship Dattilo carrying 717 immigrants rescued last Thursday in international waters, including the bodies of 12 immigrants who died during the crossing due to overcrowding.
    On Saturday evening, police arrested two men suspected to be responsible for those deaths, with the charge of manslaughter.
    In the days that followed, Palermo police have stopped nine other suspected traffickers based on immigrant testimony.
    Meanwhile on Monday, police in Ragusa stopped three suspected migrant traffickers who piloted two boats - one carrying 52 immigrants and the other carrying 92 - that docked in Pozzallo last Friday.
    Also on Monday, police in Siracusa stopped four other suspected migrant traffickers who they say piloted an Egyptian fishing boat carrying 150 immigrants that was intercepted 120 miles east of Augusta, after having departed from Alessandria on July 2.
    The Italian Coast Guard rescued those 150 immigrants, who said they had each paid between 1500 and 2000 dollars for the trip from Egypt, and brought them to the port of Augusta in Sicily on two motorboats.