Trafficking ‘kingpin’ extradited to Italy

An Eritrean man suspected of running a human trafficking network that sent thousands of migrants to Europe, leaving many to die on the way, has been extradited from Sudan to Italy, officials said.

Medhane Yehdego Mered, 35, was flown to Italy during the night after his arrest in Khartoum, Sudan, on May 24, Italian and British officials said.

It is the first time a suspected kingpin has been tracked down in Africa, where many of the smuggling networks are based, and brought to face justice in Italy since Europe’s immigration crisis started almost three years ago.