ROME -- An Italian citizen has been arrested in Tunisia on suspicion of illegally manufacturing boats used by migrants to cross the Mediterranean. He is the first European to be arrested in Tunisia on grounds of illegally manufacturing migrant vessels, Tunisian police have been quoted saying.

 The man, 45, whose identity has not been revealed to the media, was arrested by Tunisian authorities on Wednesday after six migrants were stopped before they were set to make their voyage across the Mediterranean. The Italian, living in the coastal town of Monastir, had previously worked in a boat factory and reportedly had a workshop to make the vessels in Ouardanine.

 The Italian was named in a hearing in Sousse and Mahdia by Farid Ben Jha, who also confirmed the arrest on radio station Jawhara Fm. Ben Jha also said drugs had been found in a property owned by the Italian national.

 bq