Infant Trafficking Ring: Ukraine to Germany

“German couple detained on Ukraine-Polish border with a newborn baby

Around 07:00 a.m. a Mercedes crossed the Ukraine-Polish border. On board were a husband and wife – both German citizens – two young children and an 5-day old infant girl.

The husband told authorities that he was father of the newborn child, the mother of whom is Ukrainian. He presented a certificate of birth and a notarized letter by the infant’s mother allowing him to take the infant abroad. Ukrainian Border Service agents were suspicious and began checking their database.

Oleh Slobodyan, Deputy Head of Ukrainian Border Guard Service: “The border guards were suspicious because the German couple had never travelled to Ukraine and the mother of the infant had never travelled to Europe. So they never could have met in person.”

Ivan Galkin, Border Guard Service press officer: “No proof was provided that the husband was, in fact, the father of the infant. So, the incident is tantamount to the illegal transportation of a child abroad. We have already notified the police.”

Those apprehended told a different version of events after being questioned:

Detained woman: “We wanted another child, and why not? Oksana promised that this was possible. She discussed this with the mother of the infant, about giving her away, and said that she already had a daughter and was not able to care for two children.”

Detained man: “I found from the agency that she is the real legal mother and decided to adopt the infant. To do a deed and raise her. But it turned that I was led astray by the documents. I didn’t kidnap any child and had not intention to do so. I just wanted to do a good deed.”

It is now known that the infant was born a Lviv maternity ward. And a certificate of birth was isssued. The detained individuals said that they paid USD 150 dollars to a middleman and hryvnia 10,000 to the infant’s mother. Police are looking for them.

The infant’s mother is from Zarkarpattia region, but lived in Kyiv. Meanwhile, police have opened a criminal investigation. The investigators assume that the couple was transporting the infant abroad to give to another family. The German couple are being questioned and infant girl has been in temporary custody.”

 

Infant girl in limbo: Lviv police investigate illegal adoption ring [Ukraine Today 8/28/15]

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