Farsala: Shocking case of migrant workers’ trafficking and exploitation

Police forces arrested four individuals on Saturday night (21/02) in the Farsala area on charges of human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape, uncovering a shocking case of migrant worker exploitation.

Specifically, two men aged 26 and 48 and two women aged 24 and 44 were arrested. A case file has been formed against them, as applicable, for participation in a criminal organization, human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape.

The investigation began when two men from Bulgaria called for help via the emergency number 112, without disclosing their location. Police eventually traced them to a riverside area in Farsala.

According to their complaint, about a week earlier the two Bulgarian men, while seeking employment, had contacted a compatriot through an online application.

On Friday (20/02), they traveled from their country to Greece by car, driven by a fellow Bulgarian national with a foreign woman as a passenger. Upon arrival, their identity cards were taken from them.

On Saturday morning (21/02), the two men were transported to a shack in the wider Farsala area, where four other Bulgarian nationals were present. Police located them, and according to their statements, they had come to Greece for work but were not being paid for their labor and were living under adverse conditions.

Police investigations led officers to a nearby house where the four suspects were found.

According to a statement by the Hellenic Police (EL.AS.), beyond promising the victims employment in agricultural work in exchange for wages and accommodation, the 48-year-old suspect allegedly subjected them, in some cases, to physical violence or verbal threats.

As reported by a female victim, three of the suspects abducted her by force in December 2025 from the village where she lived in her home country and transported her by road to Greece. During her stay in Greece, and under the violent control of the 48-year-old suspect, she was unable to communicate by phone with her relatives.

Moreover, in recent weeks, on different days, the 48-year-old allegedly sexually abused her and arranged for her rape by an elderly man, from which he also derived financial benefit.

From the possession of the arrested individuals, as well as during a lawful search conducted at their residence, authorities seized a total of €1,947.4 and 5 Bulgarian leva in cash, five mobile phones, a money transfer receipt from one suspect to another, and three vehicles — two passenger cars and one light commercial vehicle.

The victims’ identity cards, which had been withheld, were also seized and returned to their lawful owners.