In Greece, a 79-year-old Swedish woman was held captive in Xanthi for almost one and a half months

A 79-year-old tourist from Sweden spent nearly six weeks confined in an apartment in Xanthi, northeastern Greece. According to Greek police, she was held by a 30-year-old man who allegedly beat her regularly and demanded money.

The tourist arrived in Greece on 19 July and since then had no opportunity to contact her relatives. On 3 September, she managed to send the apartment’s address to a relative in Sweden, after which Greek law enforcement authorities, together with a judicial officer, carried out an operation to free her. During the arrest, the suspect resisted; the woman was taken to hospital for examination.

During a search of the residence, cocaine, scales, and other drug-related items were found. The 30-year-old man now faces charges of human trafficking, violence against police officers, and violations of narcotics legislation. He was taken to court to testify.

For those traveling to Cyprus and abroad, experts recommend informing relatives in advance of their accommodation address and contact details, maintaining regular communication, and immediately contacting local police if safety is threatened. In this case, the quick transmission of information to relatives proved to be the key to the successful rescue operation.