Modus operandi utilised by human traffickers

CYPRUS workshop meeting - February 2, 2015

@TRACE_EU http://trace-project.eu

Victims & traffickers often from same region (UNODC, EC, NL) Traffickers operating in EU, often originating from EU; Romania and

Bulgaria (Eurostat, NL) Non EU victims & traffickers mainly from Nigeria and China (Eurostat), Recruiters /traffickers: foreigners & nationals countries origin/destination

Recruiters mostly nationals (locals) – 5% traffickers convicted in CoO foreigners - ethno linguistic affinities/specific local knowledge useful (UNODC)

Exploiters mostly nationals of country were the exploitation takes place –mixed couples/immigrant background (50% of the exploiters operating in Cyprus are nationals), not confirmed by other countries


Recruiters’ mostly female – majority ‘exploiters’ male (Cyprus) ‘Traffickers’ mostly male (75% Eurostat/82% - 86% NL)

Argumentation Cyprus: due to the fact that sexual exploitation requires more risk taking and force, and female perpetrators seem to be less inclined towards undertaking the sexual exploitation of people. Male perpetrators willing to exploit people, but also ‘protect’ their victims from other perpetrators, this requires risk taking, courage, physical strength, and criminal networking; elements that males seem to possess to a greater extent than females. (Cyprus)


Majority of victims are directly approached by recruiters Recruiter often known and trusted - acquaintances or friends, sometimes

relative Recruitment THB for labour exploitation done more casually by friends

and relatives (Cyprus) or ‘recruitment agency’. Difficult to proof criminal intent of recruiter – job offer might be shared,

while not knowing intent (Romania) (female) victims used to recruit others/become recruiters Recruiters often act solo (Cyprus) Exploiters also recruit directly, in particular related to internal trafficking

(14% Cyprus)


Usually no use of violence or aggressive methods - recruiters rather deceive through loving relationship, promises of a better life, (legal) employment abroad (90% Cyprus)

Deception about nature or conditions of work or (receipt) of earnings Lover boy method – often minors, often for THB sexual exploitation Victims sometimes informed about engagement illegal

activities/consent for working in sex industry Abuse of vulnerability (economic/low living standards, psychological or

social position/poor education) – recruiters know who to address Vulnerable groups; women (particular sexual exploitation),

children/minors (sexual exploitation – NL 25% cases minors/begging a.o), Roma (begging), men (labour exploitation), disabled (begging)


Recruited within country (Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, NL 50%) or abroad with local support

Dutch victims not recruited abroad Recruitment places: hospitality sector, restaurants & bars/nightclubs

(NL), via internet, in & around schools (Romania, NL), prostitution zones. Internet – advertisements/online recruitment agencies Victims of sexual exploitation recruited from rural areas (Romania) Victims pressured to make quick decisions – meetings arranged close to

public transport/ensuring persons leave quick (Romania) Sometimes meetings organized at premises of (fake/illegal companies

specialized for employment abroad & contracts directly signed. (Romania/Bulgaria)


Payment/debt bonding mostly occurs after recruitment phase Mostly victims do not pay any money to recruiters, sometimes they pay

for travel and promised employment in advance (Cyprus 22%) Victims of THB for labour exploitation from third countries pay

significant amounts of money (Cyprus 2.000 – 10.000 euro) To ‘encourage’ direct payments in advance , victims receive fake

proof/visa copies to show high costs.


Transportation and accommodation for THB for sexual exploitation tends to be more planned/organized

Internal trafficking, less necessity for travel arrangements/but still moved for purpose of isolation

Victims THB sexual exploitation transported via air or road (distance) Victims THB labour exploitation/begging usually by road (costs count) By road, by private or rented cars, trains or international bus lines Victims organize travel/emigrate themselves looking for a job Children transported to cities close to borders and dispersed to various

buses belonging to local carriers. (Romania) Departure of victims takes place in relatively short time after agreement Victims often enter legally with permits — employment, visitor, tourist,

student (3% illegal entrance Cyprus)


‘Recruiter’ might also be involved in transporting the victim (in particular with THB for sexual exploitation)

Often then women transport victims – border authorities less alert Victims of THB labour exploitation/other forms are preponderantly

travelling alone with own documents - only in rare instances (5%) do recruiters accompany them to the country of destination

If accompanied then by a friend, acquaintance or trafficker (seldom) There is a person awaiting them and upon arrival, they are transported

locally to the place of employment Coercion during transportation is rather exceptional and not needed due

to the trust of the victim in offer/recruiter


Involves different steps – including registration person, organizing housing, permit to work and or work (leave work for which they received initially their permit), ensuring control – organized by traffickers or facilitators/mediators

Exploitation facilitated by legal actors & agencies, knowingly and not knowingly (NL)

Legal situation used (Cyprus until 2009 artist visa used)


Promised working conditions differ considerably from reality Harsh employment - dangerous, unhealthy work Not insured, no legal job Long working hours, many working days Bad housing conditions (location, hygiene, electricity, habitants) Documents are withheld, no access to own documents (below minimum) wages, no income, paid black, postponement payment Mistreated, blackmailed, forced or threatened, under pressure Dependent on employer through benefits in kind (work,

accommodation, meals, all provided by the employer) In debt bonding situation


All travel expenses and preparation costs are covered by the trafficker Upon arrival in destination country victim faces a debt of several

thousand Euros and therefore forced into prostitution/begging/labour Victims do not receive pre-agreed amounts Trafficker pays for accommodation, buys clothes, give money and cover

all other related costs Costs continue to be added


Traffickers are found to apply a series of coercive measures to subjugate their victims and to maintain such subjugation:

Treat or use of (physical) force Blackmail – related will illegal entry or stay, working in prostitution Disinformation – convincing victims that police will not support them Threatening a victim to harm children/relatives Permanent monitoring – regular visits Restriction of movement, not allowing social contacts Forced drugs and alcohol use Deprivation of sleep and food Often a combination of tactics – pressure increases; treats enforced


(Legal or illegal) prostitution sector, including street, bar, pub/club prostitution and privately in apartments and in escort services and for pornography

Agriculture (mushroom-growing, asparagus, orange picking, olive harvesting)

toilet-cleaning (NL) transport (NL) shipping industry (NL) Construction Domestic work Begging, petty crimes


Modus operandi utilised by human traffickers

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