The incident, which could have been lifted straight from the pages of a spy novel, resulted in the drowning of four individuals, including a former agent from Israel’s spy agency Mossad, two Italian intelligence officers, and a Russian woman.
The scenic lake, located south of the Swiss Alps, was the backdrop for what appeared to be a casual boat ride. The small vessel carried 23 passengers, a blend of Italian and Israeli agents, along with the boat’s captain, Claudio Carminati, and his Russian spouse.
The boat, christened “Good…uria” - a pun that translates to “pleasure” - was set to navigate the lake in honour of a birthday celebration.
However, the leisurely journey took a disastrous turn when a violent storm struck, causing the boat to capsize. “In a matter of 30 seconds, an apocalypse descended upon us,” Carminati recounted the incident, as reported by the newspaper Corriere della Sera. “The boat immediately capsized, and we fell into the water.”
Among the casualties were Tiziana Barnobi, 53, and Claudio Alonzi, 62 - both operatives of the Italian secret service, and Simoni Erez, a 50-year-old retired Mossad agent. His name was disclosed in the Italian press, even as Israeli media outlets refrained from reporting it. The fourth casualty was Anna Bozhkova, a 50-year-old Russian woman who held a residence permit to live in Italy.
In the wake of the catastrophe, the survivors hastily gathered their belongings and departed. The Israelis were airlifted back home on an Israeli aircraft that collected them in Milan. Their identities remain undisclosed.
The boat, currently ensnared at the lake’s bottom, has yet to be salvaged, postponing the investigation.
Public prosecutor Carlo Nocerino, assigned to unravel the truth behind the incident, told the BBC that the boat was designed to accommodate 15 passengers, but it was carrying eight more than that.
Carminati, the boat’s captain, is under investigation for possibly causing the shipwreck and culpable homicide.
The investigation will scrutinise compliance with safety measures, maintenance, certification, and insurance of the vessel.
As the investigation proceeds, the real-life spy enigma on Lake Maggiore leaves more questions than it answers.
