Police bust ’’Baby Farm’’ racket; one arrested

An arrest of 47-year-old man had led the Police uncover a racket, known as ‘baby farming’ in which infants have been exchange for payment following agreement with mothers.

At a press briefing, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that it has been revealed that about 30 such children have been sold for money after entering into agreement with pregnant mothers with the suspect.

The suspect was arrested in Ukuwela, Matale on Monday, following a lengthy investigation conducted by the Police- Children and Women's Bureau, DIG Rohana said.

He said the suspect had carried out the racket at two locations in the Moratuwa through a video uploaded as an advertisement on the social media.

The Spokesman said that the suspect would bring the helpless women to the relevant places, signed contracts and sold the children to a third party after childbirth.

He said that such child trafficking rackets were known as "baby farming" in foreign countries and that 12 pregnant women involved in the racket had been identified following investigations.

"Investigation have revealed that five of the children have already been handed over to a third party, while the mothers with three other children and another 12 pregnant mothers were being kept under the protection of the suspect," he said.

The suspect was to be produced before the Moratuwa Magistrate's Court yesterday, the Spokesman said.