Four possible victims of human trafficking have been identified by the Police, after they were identified during training operations - in real time, in the context of an international training exercise, which took place these days, in Cyprus, at the initiative of the European Border Control Agency - Frontex.
By carrying out, among other training activities, actual interviews of a number of people, with the aim of identifying potential victims of human trafficking, the international training exercise led to the identification of four potential victims, for whom further actions will follow by the Cyprus Police, in collaboration with other competent authorities, in order to establish whether they are victims of human trafficking.
The training exercise, lasting five days, was organized by Frontex and took place between Monday and Friday, April 15-19, 2024, in Cyprus and in particular at the arrivals areas of the two airports in Larnaca and Paphos, as well as at the First Reception Hospitality Center "Pournara", in Nicosia. The exercise included both theoretical training and briefing, as well as real-time operational application.
The organization of the international exercise to combat human trafficking, once again highlights the recognition of the work carried out by the Authorities of the Republic, but also the constantly evolving challenges presented, at national and international level, to deal with one of the most serious forms of crime and for the protection of victims of human trafficking.
With the co-organizers of the Cyprus Police and the Romanian Police, the exercise was attended by Cyprus and the Cyprus Police, officers of the Social Welfare Services, members of the Anti-Trafficking Office - GHEP, and members of the Aliens and Immigration Service - YAM, while also participating, members of the Romanian Police, members of Europol, officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration – IOM, and the Service for the Protection of Passenger Data – Passenger Name Record (PNR).