Two men jailed for human trafficking seven people to Ireland for labour exploitation
Georgijs Poniza, a 37-year-old man, and Armen Pogosyan, a 30-year-old Armenian man, trafficked seven people from Latvia to Ireland for labour exploitation, subjecting them to physical violence, threats, and conditions in which some had to scour public bins for food. The pair, of Ballyshannon, Donegal, recruited the victims by deception in Latvia and supplied them to two companies in south Donegal. They pleaded guilty to 17 charges each, including seven of trafficking, money laundering, and forgery, at Donegal Circuit Court on 18 June 2026. Poniza was sentenced to 13 years in prison and Pogosyan to a similar term with the final two years suspended, in what is the first conviction in the Republic for human trafficking on the basis of labour exploitation.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced18 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two men trafficked seven people from Latvia to Ireland for labour exploitation, subjecting them to physical violence, threats, and conditions in which some had to scour public bins for food.
- The victims were recruited by deception in Latvia, promised good salary, housing, and no bills, and their passports were seized by the men.
- Where
- The men, of Assaroe Falls, Ballyshannon, supplied workers to two companies in south Donegal, and the victims lived in a rural house in Rossnowlagh or an apartment in Ballyshannon.
- Charges
- Each man faced 17 charges including seven of trafficking, money laundering, and forgery, and both pleaded guilty at a late stage.
- In court
- They appeared before Donegal Circuit Court on 18 June 2026.
- Sentence
- Georgijs Poniza (37) was sentenced to 13 years in prison and Armen Pogosyan (30) received a similar sentence with the final two years suspended.
- Other details
- It is the first conviction in the Republic of Ireland for human trafficking on the basis of labour exploitation.
- No criminality was suggested against the two companies that received the workers.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men trafficked seven people to Ireland for work and subjected them to horrendous conditions (irishtimes.com)
- whatSome of the victims had to scour public bins for food (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere was a very high degree of planning and premeditation (irishtimes.com)
- whatVictims were subjected to physical violence and threats and menaces (irishtimes.com)
- whatVictims were vulnerable people who lived in impoverished circumstances in Latvia (irishtimes.com)
- whatVictims were initially recruited by deception in Latvia (irishtimes.com)
- whatVictims were promised employment with a good salary, good housing and no bills (irishtimes.com)
- whatPoniza and Pogosyan supplied workers to two companies in south Donegal (irishtimes.com)
- whatBank cards in the name of some victims were obtained and used by the accused (irishtimes.com)
- whatVictims felt treated like animals or slaves and were left homeless (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe passports of the victims were seized by the men (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe duo are of Assaroe Falls, Ballyshannon (irishtimes.com)
- whereVictims lived in a rural house in Rossnowlagh or an apartment in Ballyshannon (irishtimes.com)
- chargeEach was before the court on 17 charges including seven apiece of trafficking (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThey also pleaded to money laundering and forgery charges (irishtimes.com)
- courtThey appeared before Donegal Circuit Court on Thursday (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceGeorgijs Poniza was given a 13-year prison sentence (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceArmen Pogosyan received a similar sentence with the final two years suspended (irishtimes.com)
- otherIt is the first conviction of its kind in the Republic for human trafficking on the basis of labour exploitation (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo criminality was suggested against the two companies (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Jun2026Human traffickers jailed in first conviction of its kind in Irish Republic
First conviction in the Republic for human trafficking on the basis of labour exploitation. Both defendants pleaded guilty at a late stage, sparing victims a six-week trial. Pogosyan is of Armenian nationality from Uzbekistan.
convicted, Georgijs Poniza, 37, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Georgijs Ponizaconvicted, Armen Pogosyan, 30, male, Armenian, named, non-irishArmen Pogosyanvictim, male, non-irish (judged from name)victim, female, non-irish (judged from name)