Venezuelan mom sells baby to Trinidad couple for 20,000 US dollars

TRINIDAD - A twomonth old baby boy who was sold to a Trincity couple for 20,000 US dollars one month ago was rescued from a house in Trincity on Wednesday and is now in the care of the Children’s Authority. The baby’s mother, who is a Venezuelan domestic worker, reportedly sold the baby to a local pilot and his Italian wife who is a businesswoman.

She left for Venezuela after collecting the cash, but later contacted the Venezuelan Embassy in this country to say she had been tricked into giving up her baby and wanted to be reunited with him. The mother returned to the country and gave information to the Counter Trafficking and Child Protection units and the Trincity couple was put under surveillance. Investigators also discovered that the couple had hired a Central-based lawyer to secure the deal. After weeks of investigations and surveillance, Counter Trafficking Unit officers went to an area in Trincity at 9 am on Wednesday and searched several houses. They found the baby at the home of the pilot and his wife. The baby was in perfect health and did not appear to be at risk.

The joint team from the Counter Trafficking and Child Protection units took the baby to the Children’s Authority and he was placed in a safe house. The couple who was in possession of the baby reportedly told police they had done no wrong and the baby’s mother gave him to them because she could not take care of him financially. The couple said they agreed to do so.

(Stabroek News)