Srilanka - Major baby trafficking racket bared

Updated - 12/1/2008 - dailymirror.lk.

The CID are on the look out for a wealthy Kompanna Veediya woman who is believed to be the mastermind behind a baby trafficking racket which has been going on for several months.

CID sources said a special police team had been deployed to arrest the woman who is absconding.

They said several hospital workers were involved in the racket which was bared at the Katunayake airport following a failed attempt to smuggle out a new-born baby.

Following information obtained from three women arrested at the airport, the CID arrested a minor employee attached to the blood bank of the Castle Street maternity hospital.

Initial investigations have revealed that at least four babies had been smuggled out of the country in this manner.

CID ASP Mewan Silva said the racketeers led by the wealthy woman in Kompanna Veediya had smuggled out a baby girl just a month ago, a two-day old baby girl six months ago, a baby boy about eight months ago and another baby boy a year ago.

The Castle Street hospital employee reportedly targets mothers with various problems including financial difficulties and later convince them to give their babies for adoption to rich families, assuring that the babies would be well looked after.

The suspect then accepts the baby and hands it over to the wealthy woman in charge of the racket. This woman reportedly smuggles the baby out of the country or sells for adoption for a large price. She is said to have paid the employee sums ranging between Rs.5000 and Rs.10, 000 for a baby.

Meanwhile the three female suspects including the real mother of the child have been remanded.