The police have stumbled upon what is strongly suspected to be a human smuggling racket that has been ferrying migrants from Malta.

Sources said the police started digging into the case when Burme Sidibe, 22, and Dasina Brayou, 26, from the Ivory Coast, reported they had been scammed when attempting one of the voyages last Monday.

They claimed they had been part of a boatload of migrants who tried to leave the island in a trip that had to be cancelled because the vessel developed a mechanical fault. When they asked for their money back, the men organising the trip refused.

This led to the arraignment of Angelo Bilocca, 31, who was accused of conspiring with three men from Mali: Adama Bagayoko, 20, Abdulaziz Seven, 30, and Musa Sangare, 23, yesterday afternoon. They live in San Ġwann, Ħamrun and Ħal Far respectively.

During the arraignment, Police Inspector Nezren Grixti asked that a van used to transport the migrants to the awaiting boat be confiscated and the assets of the accused frozen.

Mr Bilocca's lawyers, José Herrera and Veronique Dalli, criticised strongly, pointing out that their client's meat business would be jeopardised.

However, Magistrate Claire Strafrace Zammit upheld the request.

Mr Bilocca was granted bail against a deposit of €5,000 and a personal guarantee of €25,000.

The magistrate refused a request by lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar to move the three migrants to a detention centre rather than prison. They were remanded in custody.

The police also arraigned Mr Sidibe and Mr Brayou, charging them with trying to leave the island without a passport and without informing the authorities.

They admitted to the charges and were jailed for two months.