Italy's Deputy Premier and Foreign
Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday defended the work of the Coast
Guard and Finance Police, saying they "have always done their
duty".
"The Finance Police and Coast Guard have always done their duty,
including with disregard for danger," said Tajani during the
14th plenary meeting of the Finance Police expert officers
serving abroad, in Rome.
This is also true of "the latest incident with dozens of
innocent victims exploited by unscrupulous criminals who led
them to their deaths just a few dozen meters from the Italian
coast," he added in reference to the 26 February shipwreck off
the southern Calabria region in which at least 70 refugees and
migrants are known to have died.
"The traffickers must be cracked down on very firmly," said
Tajani.
The Finance Police and Coast Guard have been at the centre of
controversy in relation to the shipwreck off Steccato di Cutro
near Crotone amid allegations that rescue operations were
negligently delayed.
A probe has been opened.
Some 80 refugees and migrants survived the tragedy after the
fishing boat they were travelling in from Turkey ran aground in
rough seas and broke up. Between 30 and 50 people are still
missing.
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