Maltese man wanted in Italy claims illegal 'indefinite arrest'

A Maltese man fighting extradition to Italy over drug trafficking charges is claiming that he has landed in “a state of illegality” and is calling for immediate release from his “indefinite” state of arrest.

Paul Attard, a 43-year old shipper, was arrested in Malta twice over the past four years, on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Italian authorities.

He is wanted there to face trial over his alleged involvement in the trafficking of ten tonnes of hashish found on a fishing vessel.

The incident dates to 2018 when the vessel was intercepted by Italian authorities in international waters between Malta and Algeria, carrying the load of drugs that was allegedly discovered inside the vessel’s cold room.

The following year, a request for extradition was rejected by the Magistrates’ Courts.

A fresh EAW was issued in September 2021 and was once again turned down by another magistrate presiding over the proceedings.

However, following an appeal by the Attorney General the case was sent back before a different magistrate who greenlighted Attard’s extradition to Italy.

That decision was confirmed on appeal in December 2021, prompting Attard’s lawyers to institute...