Authorities Break Up Infant Trafficking Ring in Almaty

A group engaged in the illegal sale of newborns has been uncovered in Almaty, Orda.kz reports.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the scheme had been operating for several years. The suspects reportedly used social media platforms to find both biological mothers and prospective clients. 

Investigators say the group acted as intermediaries, connecting women from socially vulnerable backgrounds, including foreign nationals, with individuals seeking to purchase children.

Law enforcement authorities carried out a special operation and detained the suspects during an attempted sale of a newborn boy. The child has been placed under state protection and transferred to a specialized institution.

A criminal case has been initiated, and the suspects have been taken into custody.

This is not a one-off attempt. We believe that there was a stable scheme, possibly with interregional connections. Work to identify all those involved continues. Illegal actions against children, especially newborns, are a cynical and serious crime. Not a single such fact will remain without due legal assessment,said Kuatbek Nauatov, First Deputy Head of the Almaty Police Department.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are examining whether the suspects may be linked to similar cases in other regions.

Original Author: Dinara Bekbolayeva