LISBON: Portugal arrested 28 people suspected of human trafficking and exploitation of agricultural workers after raids on farms in the southern Alentejo region, police said on Tuesday.

Investigators have identified victims hailing from Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, India, Pakistan and Senegal. Lured to Portugal with promises of employment, they were found to be living in execrable conditions and suffering abuse including violence, according to a source close to the investigation quoted by the Publico.

After 78 raids mobilising some 480 officers, the police in a statement disclosed that the 28 detainees, who include Port­uguese as well as other nationals, are suspected of belonging to a network aiding illegal immigration as well as engaging in money laundering and tax fraud. They are due to appear before a magistrate on Wednesday.

Cases of labour exploitation, when poor migrants are trapped in unpaid work, and human trafficking have been growing in Portugal, particularly in the agricultural sector. Once put to work, their papers are often confiscated and pay withheld, with many packed into primitive dwellings with few or no amenities.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2023