A court in Crotone, Italy, has sentenced three men to prison for their involvement in the tragic Cutro shipwreck of 2023, which claimed the lives of at least 94 migrants, including children. The court handed sentences ranging from 11 to 16 years to the defendants for aiding illegal immigration, although they were acquitted of charges directly related to causing the shipwreck.
The tragedy occurred when the vessel, named “Summer Love,” ran aground near Steccato di Cutro, about 100 meters from the shore. At least ten passengers remain missing. Among the sentenced were two Pakistani nationals, 22-year-old Hasab H. and 26-year-old Khalid A., along with a 51-year-old Turkish citizen, Sami F. Prosecutors argued that the men played an active role in organizing the passengers, though they were not considered the vessel’s skippers.
Prosecutor Pasquale Festa highlighted evidence found on one defendant’s phone, linking him to organizing the journey. The defendants, however, claimed to be passengers and denied their involvement in smuggling activities. Survivors’ testimonies contradicted their statements, leading to the convictions.
This verdict follows several other trials related to the incident. Two men, a Syrian and a Turkish national, were sentenced to 20 years in previous fast-track trials. Investigators believe the Syrian, Guler B., who perished in the shipwreck, played a leading role in planning and skippering the vessel.
Prosecutors have also called for the indictment of six Italian officials, including members of the finance police and port authority, accusing them of contributing to the tragedy through negligence. They allegedly failed to launch a search-and-rescue operation despite prior warnings from a Frontex surveillance aircraft about the migrant boat’s presence. A preliminary investigations judge will decide whether these officials will face trial.
The Cutro shipwreck remains a serious reminder of the dangers faced by migrants and the complexities of addressing human smuggling and accountability in such tragedies.