Police found a five-year-old boy stuffed in a suitcase belonging to a man getting off a ferry in Venice, leaving authorities questioning the 35-year-old man.

Ali Shaker, 35, of Afghanistan, calmly opened the suitcase for authorities to reveal the 5-year-old Afghan boy.

Shaker said he was bringing the boy to Germany on behalf of the boy’s parents so he could see family members.

Border patrol agent Antonio De Franchis, who found the child,  Assim, on December 4th, could not believe how calm Mr. Shaker was.

“He carefully put the suitcase on the table, looked at the sky and opened the suitcase,” De Franchis said.

“The boy obviously seemed scared and exhausted. We don’t know how many hours he spent inside the suitcase,” he said.

The undocumented boy is believed to be from the Hazara ethnic group from central Afghanistan, and his journey may have lasted up to three months.

Following medical checks, the boy is being looked after by a non-governmental association in Venice.

Italian judges are trying to contact his parents to confirm if what Mr Shaker said is true.

Speaking through an interpreter, the police said Assim had told them: “I want my father” and “Germany.”

Ali Shaker is currently under house arrest, charged with aiding undocumented immigration.

Jordan Shepherd | Elite.