Morocco to Spain Baby Trafficking Ring Uncovered

“Spanish police have uncovered a baby trafficking network alleged to have operated between Morocco and Spain via the Iberian enclave of Melilla for more than 30 years.

A two-year investigation by the Spanish civil guard dubbed ‘Operation Oculta’, claims to have identified 31 people involved in the network including two nuns, health workers and others.

One of the nuns was among 12 accused of child trafficking but the suspects may never serve a prison term since some have died and others now suffer from ill-health or advanced age.

Sources from the civil guard told AnsaMed at least 28 infants were sold through the network which dated back to the 1970s and almost all of them now live in the Spanish city of Valencia. Fourteen of the victims, now adults, were identified after the news broke and did not even know they had been adopted.

The disturbing revelations include claims that the babies were bought from poor women in Morocco fro a sum between 1,200 euros and 6,000 euros and sold in Spain where the newborn babies arrived with false documents.

The civil guard in Melilla began their investigation after the association responsible for irregular adoptions, Anadir, made a report to the Spanish public prosecutors’ office in November 2011. This was followed by months of research and cross checking data in the maternity departments of hospitals in Melilla and civil registries in several Spanish cities.

In the end the investigation hinged on three key suspects – three sisters born in the Moroccan city of Tetouan and believed to be the principal leaders behind the trafficking operation.

Two of them had residency in Melilla and a third in Morocco who was allegedly responsible for ensnaring poor women in an advanced stage of pregnancy who could take care of their children.

The 31 people implicated in the trafficking operation are facing charges related to false birth, changing paternity,and falsifying government documents.

The police have not ruled out further developments as the investigation is continuing.”

Spain: Baby trafficking network from Morocco uncovered

[ANSAmed 5/8/13]

See our previous coverage of Anadir’s work here.

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