Mother caught in chilling human trafficking sting
A 39-year-old Ukrainian mother has been arrested for attempting to sell her six-year-old son to a man at a local pizza restaurant for £18,500. The grim case, described by police as one that “sends a chill down your spine,” unfolded in the Lutsk district after the intended buyer tipped off authorities.
Police move in as cash and a child are exchanged
Officers spent days tracking the sordid deal before swooping in just as the woman accepted the money and handed over her child. “The man who was offered the child turned to law enforcement authorities,” a police spokesperson confirmed. “Immediately after receiving the money, the woman was detained.” Footage of the arrest has gone viral, showing police apprehending the mother on the spot. The boy is now safe in state care. The woman, who also has two older children aged 13 and 16 living with their father, faces up to 15 years behind bars if convicted under Ukraine’s human trafficking laws.
Police condemn the mother’s cold-hearted crime
Authorities were brutal in their judgment. “It isn’t just about a crime,” a spokesperson said. “It’s about a child whose own mother valued him at $25,000. It all happened in a cynical manner and, worse, deliberately.”
Not an isolated case: Baby sold for $10,000 in January
This isn’t the only shocking baby sale in Ukraine. Earlier this year, a couple in Mykolaiv were arrested after selling their newborn for $10,000 (£7,450). The 21-year-old mother and her 38-year-old partner reportedly scouted buyers while she was still pregnant, hoping to spend the cash on personal expenses. The handover happened just one day after the baby’s birth, with authorities detaining the pair near the maternity hospital. Both face serious charges under Article 149, Part 3 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code—covering the gravest human trafficking offences that carry long prison terms and possible asset seizures.
