Authorities in Kyiv have dismantled a criminal network allegedly involved in the illegal trafficking of newborns under the guise of a surrogacy program. The operation was revealed following an extensive investigation by local law enforcement.
The Kyiv Prosecutor’s Office reported that the group, which included leaders from a reproductive medical clinic, facilitated the unlawful export of infants for financial gain. Charges against the individuals involved include human trafficking, as outlined in Article 149 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code.
According to the investigation, the scheme involved recruiting women in Ukraine to enter into sham marriages with foreign nationals, allowing them to participate in surrogacy arrangements. Participants in this operation reportedly received around $50,000 for their involvement, with $15,000 allocated for artificial insemination procedures and between $1,000 to $1,500 for the fake marriages.
On April 24, the Kyiv Local Prosecutor’s Office No. 6, in collaboration with the National Police, conducted a series of raids at the residences of the suspects, as well as at the clinic and other locations. Eleven searches were carried out, resulting in the seizure of medical records, Ukrainian passports, notarized copies of foreign passports, powers of attorney, financial documents, laptops, mobile phones, and various other items.
During the operation, authorities also identified locations where newborns were kept prior to their intended illegal transport. In one such location, a hostel-type apartment in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, five infants aged between two to six weeks were found under the care of two women and a man.
The infants have since been transferred to local hospitals for medical care. Law enforcement is currently reviewing the seized documents and investigating approximately 140 foreign nationals for their potential involvement in the trafficking activities.
A criminal network in Kyiv has been uncovered for illegally trafficking newborns under a surrogacy program. Authorities conducted raids, seizing evidence and rescuing five infants.
Source: Kyiv Prosecutor’s Office