Madagascar: a couple, the mother-in-law and a doctor imprisoned for baby trafficking

Malagasy police officers in charge of the fight against cybercrime have dismantled a network selling young children. A couple, a relative and a doctor were arrested and remanded in custody. They were charged with human trafficking by a person in authority.

This message circulating on Facebook: "For those who want to adopt a child and justify their resources, we have some. You should come see us" , was sent to the police by a whistleblower.

After several days of investigations, specialists in the fight against cybercrime have managed to unmask the authors of this announcement, L'Express de Madagascar tells us .

At the end of last week, the investigators arrested a couple and a doctor. The latter, counts among his acquaintances the mother, of the young woman who sells "her infants". The practitioner would have written the babies' false birth certificates at his request. The seller's mother was also arrested.

In search of accomplices

According to the police , the two babies were sold for 2,800,000 Ariary ( €579 ) . The investigation is far from over. Midi-Madagascar suggests that it is a question of a network and not only of a couple who sell their own newborn babies.

Their colleagues write: "The man and his wife swallowed their tongues when they were asked about the origin of the infants. This suggests that they would not be on their first shot" .

In police custody , they explained that " they thought they could get them adopted" . A defense that may not last long. The two babies were placed in a social center in the capital. The mother or mothers are sought and can come forward to pick them up.

The four suspects have been remanded in custody.