They ran out of gas in Sicily, called for help and threw 750,000 euros into the sea.

A group of people stranded at sea near Sicily after their boat ran out of fuel have thrown approximately 750,000 euros into the water before being rescued by Italian coastguards. The incident occurred off the coast of Casuzza, near the town of Ragusa, on July 30. According to reports, the vessel, registered in Malta, had set sail from Marine di Ragusa on July 29 and was heading toward the island. However, it soon lost power and began drifting toward land. Onboard were three adults and a child. The crew spotted the approaching vessel and alerted local lifeguards, who responded quickly. As the coastguard boat approached, the individuals on board threw two bags into the water. These bags contained bundles of euro notes, which were later retrieved by divers on the beach. The total amount recovered ranged between 700,000 and 750,000 euros. The individuals on the boat were identified and reported to authorities, though they were not detained. The Italian authorities have not yet officially confirmed the identities of those linked to the vessel’s ownership. Italian investigative journalist Giuseppe Bascietto claims that the owner of the boat is a Maltese national named Owen Jones. According to Bascietto, Jones was aboard with two other adults and a child when the vessel ran out of fuel near Casuzza. Jones has denied any connection to the boat or the found money, stating he no longer owns the vessel and has no association with the cash. His lawyer, Franco Debono, told Times of Malta that his client “cannot confirm whether he was present in Sicily at that time, but clearly states that the money mentioned in the media is not his and that he has no connection to it.” Bascietto identified Jones using a Maltese personal document, which he linked to a 2007 court ruling in Malta. The ruling concerned a case where Jones was a victim of a serious assault and unlawful deprivation of freedom. Bascietto emphasized that this judgment does not indicate criminal behavior and that Jones does not have a police record. He further noted that the information he gathered suggests Jones was on the boat and considered its owner, though he did not disclose the source of these details. Bascietto, a free investigative journalist based in Vittoria, has been reporting on organized crime and international drug trafficking routes connecting Sicily to mainland Europe since 1992. In 2025, Italian authorities granted him police protection following threats related to his work. Despite his claims, no official indictment has been filed so far. The public prosecutor’s office in Ragusa has received inquiries regarding Owen Jones’s status in the investigation, and Times of Malta was unable to independently verify his statements. The situation remains under active examination by Italian authorities, with ongoing efforts to trace the origin of the funds and determine their intended purpose. The involvement of multiple jurisdictions, Malta, Sicily, and potentially others, adds complexity to the case. Further developments are expected as investigators continue to gather evidence and clarify the roles of all parties involved.