Gondomar couple arrested for international child trafficking

The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a couple, aged 45 and 42, residing in Gondomar, in the district of Porto, suspected of international child trafficking, the criminal police body reported this Wednesday.

In a statement, the PJ clarified that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday for the crimes of human trafficking for adoption, false declarations and forgery or forgery of documents.

According to the Judiciary, the aforementioned couple went to a family health unit (USF), in Gondomar, about a year ago, with a female baby, around four months old, so that she could be integrated into their family. and if the respective vaccination was carried out.

At the time, the suspects claimed that the baby had been born in October 2022, in Spain, as a result of an extramarital relationship between the male element and a Spanish woman, and that they intended to take care of her as if she were their daughter.

However, the PJ explains, since the couple did not have any document identifying the child, or proving their parental status, eventual adoption, regulation of parental authority or transfer of parental responsibilities, the baby ended up not being accepted at that USF. .

Two months later, in May 2023, the couple returned to that health unit, but this time showing the minor’s citizenship card, showing her as their daughter and with a birth date of December 20, 2022.

However, according to the investigators, DNA tests, carried out during the investigation, under the responsibility of the PJ’s Northern Directorate, “allowed us to unequivocally conclude that the baby is not the daughter of either member of the couple”, with the youngest been handed over to a shelter.

The PJ also states that the male member of the couple, aged 45, has a criminal record for the crimes of robbery and theft, adding that investigations continue, with the Spanish authorities, “with a view to completely clarifying the facts and determining the criminal responsibility of all parties involved in the case.”