Authorities in Cyprus are in the process of dismantling a Nigerian prostitution ring operating in Limassol, following an investigation that began last year. The case first came to light when a woman initially filed a theft complaint, but further questioning raised suspicions that she was, in fact, a victim of sex trafficking.
Police spokesman Christos Andreou confirmed the report, noting that the woman had since been relocated to a safe house as investigations continued. The complexity of the case stemmed from the limited information the victim had about those involved in her exploitation, delaying progress in identifying the perpetrators.
However, coordinated efforts by Cyprus’s anti-trafficking unit led to the arrest of a 44-year-old woman on October 9, believed to be part of the trafficking ring. Subsequent arrests included another suspect on October 18, and a 33-year-old woman taken into custody on Tuesday. Two men connected to the case are still at large, and police are actively searching for them.
Andreou stated that significant evidence has been gathered, and authorities plan to bring the case to court soon, with hopes of fully dismantling the trafficking network.
This crackdown is part of an ongoing effort by Cypriot law enforcement to combat human trafficking and protect victims of exploitation.
