Missing Romanian teen gets married in Cyprus

A tip from Interpol about a concerned family in Romania over their teenage daughter led to the arrest of a male suspect at Larnaca airport in a possible human trafficking case.

Police are investigating a possible human trafficking case, after arresting Friday morning a 25-year-old Romanian male at Larnaca International Airport.

The suspect, who was arrested on suspicion of trafficking and marriage fraud, was selected for secondary inspection around 1:40am at passport control, as he was getting ready to board a flight with two females. 

According to police, the women aged 18 and 21 also from Romania, had arrived in Cyprus on Sunday to get married in exchange for money. Law enforcement officials reportedly learned that the young females performed nuptials on the island earlier this week with citizens of non-EU countries in exchange for money. 

Sources told Knews that the family of the 18-year-old got concerned over their daughter’s whereabouts and contacted police in Romania. Then, on Wednesday, Cyprus police got a message from Interpol and placed the teen’s name on a special alert list.

When the young lady tried to clear security with her passport, a border officer at the airport flagged her for inspection, while also raising suspicion about her two traveling companions. According to sources, all three had arrived in Cyprus together and were scheduled to fly back to Romania on the same flight. Their relationship with each other was not immediately clear.

So far in 2019, there were 13 victims who have been officially recognized as victims of trafficking, including 11 females and 2 males.

A US report recently said Cyprus was on the right path in combating human trafficking, while also pointing out more needed to be done in prosecuting criminals and helping victims.