A Maltese-Australian is among four Australian men who are to be tried in their absence in Italy over drug smuggling.

An Australian newspaper reported that Michael Calleja, 51 of Kew, Nicola Ciconte, 54, Vincenzo Medici, 45 and Carmelo Loprete, 41, are to be tried next month in Vibo Valentia in Calabria.

The Age reported that the four allegedly conspired with the Calabrian mafia to ship up to 500kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of $50 million from South America to Melbourne through Italy between 2002 and 2004.

The alleged plot was discovered by the Italian police in an operation code names Operation Decollo thanks to infiltrators of the international drug network

Calleja, Medici and Loprete allegedly made several trips to Italy to work out the details of their shipments.

Malta-born Calleja is said to have inspected the drugs and later was recorded telling Ciconte that the furniture was beautiful.

Australia refused Italian requests for the extradition of the four men.

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