Child Trafficking Gang Arrested in the Bekaa
Police in the eastern Bekaa valley have arrested members of a gang that sold newly-born children, the first such arrests linked to child trafficking in Lebanon, An Nahar daily reported Thursday.
Police in a northern Bekaa town arrested a mayor, his wife, a midwife and a doctor at a hospital in the region, the newspaper said.
The operation was uncovered after police received information that the doctor and the midwife were claiming that the alleged foundling babies were being sent abroad with the help of a non-governmental organization.
Police then put the gang under watch. The mayor, who is the head of the network, was arrested when he arrived along with his wife and a pregnant woman at the hospital where she delivered the child and handed it to the man.
An Nahar said the woman who delivered the child received $500.
Investigation is ongoing with the arrested individuals to uncover more details about the child trafficking operation.