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The legal status of three women detained during a prostitution raid in Nicosia remains unknown, while a former police officer and another female have been accused of running an illegal brothel in connection with the case.
(Click here for an update to the case)
During a Saturday raid at a Nicosia apartment building, police officers detained five individuals, with two of them, a former cop and another female, being remanded in custody on charges of running an illegal brothel.
The three females could be facing possible charges but police said they were expected to go through interviews to determine whether they might be victims of sex trafficking
Local media said the retired officer in his early 70's and a woman in her mid-forties were said to be the owners or managers of the building.
Three other women were apprehended during the raid but police on Tuesday did not clarify whether they were arrested.
Sources told Knews the females could be facing possible charges but police said the three women were expected to go through interviews to determine whether they might be victims of sex trafficking.
Last week police in Limassol filed charges against two women accused of running an illegal brothel, after an undercover trafficking operation yielded no evidence of human trafficking.
The two women in their early to mid 20's, described as nationals of an African country, reportedly told police they were renting the apartment on their own and sought customers for sex in exchange for money.
Law enforcement authorities have been increasing efforts to crack down on sex work in Cyprus.
While prostitution in the Republic of Cyprus is not illegal, the sex industry remains unregulated with a law still on the books making the running of brothels anywhere unlawful by definition.
