Shocking images have emerged from the site where a foreign national, a victim of labor exploitation, was found at a livestock farm in the Larnaca district.
Cyprus participated in the pan-European initiative organized by Europol and the European Labor Authority (ELA), “LABOR EXPLOITATION ACTION DAYS,” which took place between September 14 and 20, 2026, with the aim of preventing and combating labor exploitation; it was within this framework that the victim was located, following a report from a citizen.
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According to statements made on the Alpha News program by the Head of the Office for Combating Human Trafficking, Eleni Michael, the individual in question—who was living in appalling conditions—was located as part of Europe-wide operations.
“There were other indicators that further confirmed this person was a victim of labor exploitation. For this reason, the case was investigated. A file was sent to the Legal Service, consent was granted to file the case with the Nicosia District Court, and it will be heard. This information came from the Labor Office to the Police and was investigated as part of these operations. The victim is covered by insurance. It was a livestock farm. This individual had come on a work permit to work in a different sector but was ultimately deceived and ended up working at this facility. He did not file the complaint himself; it was filed by a member of the public. And that is why we have the four-digit hotline—1497—through which we encourage people to provide us with information whenever they become aware of cases like these or other similar ones.”
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According to Ms. Michael, the suspect in this case is a 72-year-old man, and the law provides for up to 25 years in prison.
“These operations take place within two frameworks. The first framework is that of investigation. When you have specific information, have conducted your own verification, and now have confirmed evidence, you carry out an operation because you need additional evidence. The other operations are carried out within the framework of prevention—as a precaution, to stay one step ahead. That’s why we’re inspecting so many properties. From the very beginning, the case was managed in coordination with Social Welfare Services, which took on the task of finding him a safe place to live. He is working, and I think he is in a much better situation.”
The Office for Combating Human Trafficking is constantly conducting operations with the assistance of other police departments, Ms. Michael emphasizes, stressing that the crime of human trafficking—and particularly labor exploitation— is extremely serious, and specific indicators must be identified in order to recognize an individual as a victim and investigate the case, so that suspects can be brought to court.
*The person in the photograph is a stock image.
