ROME -- A Palermo court has sentenced six members of a human trafficking cartel to up to six years and four months for smuggling migrants into and out of Italy, in a landmark case for the issue, La Repubblica reported. It is the first time in Italy that a conviction recognises the existence of the transnational criminal organisations that traffic refugees and migrants across the perilous sea route between Libya and Europe.

 The six defendants, Eritrean nationals, formed the leadership of an organisation managing the stay of migrants in Italy and their often difficult passage to other European countries. The smugglers were involved in the tragic shipwreck off the shores of Lampedusa in October 2013 which killed 366 migrants and refugees, one of the many deadly incidences in which overcrowded and ill-equipped boats that smugglers crowd with migrants have crashed or sunk. Survivors' reports from the shipwreck helped to identify the traffickers.

 The sentences, passed on Monday by Palermo prosecutor Angela Gerardi, range from two years to six years and four months. They are expected to provide a precedent for future cases of human trafficking, a step towards ending the impunity of the illegal holding companies responsible for the deaths of thousands of migrants and refugees travelling from North Africa to seek safer and better lives in Europe.

 The court decision came at the end of a fast track-trial for the six accused, which means the ruling cannot be appealed but that sentences may be reduced by up to a third if the defendants are found guilty. Proceedings against a further three people thought to be at the head of the organisation have been suspended on the grounds that they could not be traced.

 The trial emerged from the so-called Glauco investigation that began after the 2013 Lampedusa shipwreck, at the time the deadliest in recent Mediterranean history. The tragedy was met with shock and sympathy throughout Europe and led the EU to launch a Rome-led naval rescue mission to prevent migrant deaths at sea.

 However, worsening crises in their countries of origin and a lack of safe alternative routes have led to an increase in migrants and refugees undertaking the sea journey, at the cost of up to 90,000 euros and often their lives.

 Assistant prosecutor in Palermo, Maurizio Scalia, expressed hopes that the case would have an impact in the fight against human trafficking. "I am convinced that the case will have an effect on other investigations under way in Europe. We will let Eurojust [the EU agency dealing with judicial co-operation in criminal matters] immediately."

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