Four potential victims of human trafficking have been identified by the police following their discovery during real-time training operations, as part of an international training exercise conducted recently in Cyprus, initiated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency – Frontex.
Through various educational actions, including real interviews with a number of individuals to identify potential trafficking victims, the international training exercise led to the identification of four potential victims.
Further actions will be taken by the Cyprus Police, in collaboration with other competent authorities, to ascertain if these are indeed victims of human trafficking.
The five-day training exercise, organised by Frontex, took place between Monday and Friday, 15-19 April 2024, in Cyprus, specifically at arrival areas at the two airports in Larnaca and Paphos, as well as at the First Reception Centre “Pournara” in Nicosia.
The exercise included both theoretical training and practical application in real-time.
The organisation of this international exercise to combat human trafficking highlights the recognition of the work carried out by the Republic’s authorities and the continually evolving challenges faced at both national and international levels in addressing one of the most serious forms of crime and protecting victims of human trafficking.
Co-organised by the Cyprus Police and the Romanian Police, the exercise involved participants from Cyprus, including officers from the Social Welfare Services, members of the Office for Combating Trafficking in Persons, and members of the Alien and Immigration Service. Additionally, members of the Romanian Police, Europol, officers from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organisation for Migration, and the Passenger Name Record Protection Service also participated.
