Cyprus police dismantles Nigerian gangs involved in human trafficking and prostitution

Greek Cypriot police said it has dismantled a well-organised human trafficking and prostitution ring with connections to north Cyprus and Nigeria.

According to the report by, Phileleftheros in October, two women have been arrested in a covert operation, a third suspect was arrested at the end of October. 

The case first came to the attention of the police last year when a Nigerian woman filed a complaint at the Larnaca CID, initially claiming to be a victim of theft. However, during questioning, suspicions arose that she was actually a victim of sex trafficking , having been brought to Cyprus under false pretences. The woman was then relocated to a safe house.

The investigation which started in May 2023 took time due to the victim’s limited information about her abusers’ identities.

The victim stated she arrived in north Cyprus on 18 August 2022 and crossed to the south after being promised a better future in 2021 by a friend in Nigeria. She was allegedly told she would need to engage in prostitution for three months to repay a debt of 7 million Naira (approximately €14,000) to the suspect who facilitated her travel.

Upon arrival, the victim was reportedly taken to the suspect’s flat in Limassol, where her passport was confiscated. The following day, an online advertisement for her services was posted.

Sources say the victim was held in the suspect’s Limassol flat without freedom of movement, with all her earnings going to the suspect. She reportedly faced threats of violence, rape, and deportation if she stopped working or failed to hand over money.

The victim later moved to Larnaca but was unable to earn enough to pay the suspect. This led to another woman confiscating her belongings and phone on the suspect’s orders.

Police said coordinated efforts led to the arrest of the primary suspect, a 44-year-old woman on October 9 in Limassol, suspected of involvement in the trafficking ring, followed by a second arrest on October 18 of a 32-year-old woman (the second suspect) which were kept a secret. On October 22, a third Nigerian woman aged 33, was also taken into custody. Two men are still wanted in connection with the case.

Police said they recovered the victim’s passport from the first suspect during a search of her residence. 

The victim has allegedly paid approximately €5,000 to the first suspect and €1,000 to a second suspect, who is believed to have acted as a pimp under a specific pseudonym.

In her statement to police, the first suspect admitted that the complainant worked for her in prostitution and that she kept her passport to prevent her from leaving Cyprus.

The first suspect, was brought to the Limassol District Court on October 18. Her detention was extended for 8 days.

Investigators say she recruited other women, including the third suspect and the second suspect for prostitution activities at a Limassol apartment.

Sources report the suspect has allegedly confessed to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit felony and misdemeanour, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of adults, money laundering, maintaining a brothel, pimping, and exploitation of prostitutes. The offences are believed to have occurred between August 2022 and May 2023.

The third suspect appeared before Limassol District Court on October 22, where she was remanded in custody for 4 days. Her lawyer did not object to the detention order.

Police investigators discovered 13 adult service advertisements linked to the suspect’s bank card, posted on a popular online platform between April 2024 and recently.

During questioning, the suspect denied involvement, claiming she had lent her bank card to another person who needed it for online purchases.

Two alleged ringleaders remain at large, according to police sources. 

The victim has been moved to a shelter as investigations proceed.

The investigation has revealed a complex operation involving individuals responsible for flat rentals, online advertisements, and provision of clothing and accessories for the victims.

Investigators face additional challenges as victims reportedly entered Cyprus irregularly, leaving no official documentation of their true identities.

The Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Cyprus Police continues investigations to locate other individuals involved in the network.

Authorities believe more arrests may follow as the investigation continues into the network’s operations in Cyprus and its international connections.