Babies sold abroad for 70 thousand euros: Ukraine uncovered the scheme

25 January 01:28

The Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), together with the investigation department of the Obolon police department in Kiev and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, has exposed a large-scale criminal scheme related to the illegal sale of newborn children abroad. This was reported by the head of ARMA Olena Duma, informs Komersant ukrainskyi

According to her, the organizers of the scheme turned out to be the owners of private medical clinics in Kiev and Kharkiv, who acted in collusion with lawyers, translators and medical staff.

“The criminal group used surrogacy programs as a cover. Women in difficult life circumstances were offered 12 thousand euros for participation in these programs. After the birth of children, they were forced to provide false data for registration, to renounce motherhood in favor of foreign citizens and to allow the export of newborns abroad,” Duma said.

The cost of each child on the black market was from 50 to 70 thousand euros.

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The assets of the criminal group have been identified

During the investigation, law enforcers found significant assets belonging to members of the criminal organization. Among them:

  • 24 real estate objects;
  • 9 land plots;
  • 10 vehicles;
  • cash in the amount of UAH 2.5 mln;
  • 4 objects of intellectual property.

In addition, the perpetrators opened bank accounts in different countries, regularly changed their places of residence and traveled to elite resorts around the world.

International cooperation in the investigation

In cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, it was possible to establish additional evidence.

It was also established that the perpetrators opened bank accounts in different countries, regularly changed their places of registration and traveled extensively, visiting luxury resorts around the world.

In addition, in cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, ARMA was able to locate overseas motor vehicles and bank accounts in the United States, Romania, Denmark, and Germany. The facts of border crossings by the defendants and their entourage were also confirmed.

The investigation continues, and the collected materials will help to bring to justice all those involved in this large-scale scheme.

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Дзвенислава Карплюк
Editor