A gang that was trafficking Brazilian children to the United States has been broken up by Brazil’s Federal Police with the arrest of some 15 people.
Among those arrested was a lawyer, a notary public and a military policeman. At least three other suspects are being sought by the police for questioning.
Brazilian Police spokesmen say the gang had been operating since 2004 and had sent hundreds of children to the US for prices varying between US$ 13,000 to US$ 15,000 each.
However, this was not an ordinary child-trafficking scheme. The receptors in most cases were the children’s own parents who were Brazilians living and working illegally in the US.
The parents, after immigrating illegally themselves, hired the child traffickers to bring their children to them once they had a more or less stable situation in the US.
The gang hired people, known as "storks," to travel with the children as if they were their parents. Each "stork" got around US$ 3,000 per trip.
They boarded planes at international airports in Rio or São Paulo. Sometimes they travelled in large "family" groups, with two "storks," playing mother and father to a bunch of children.
Brazilian police and American immigration officials are working together on the case. If children "trafficked" to the US in the scheme are found, they and their parents will be deported. The police are also looking into the possibility that some of the children may have been sex slaves.
Agência Brasil
Show Comments (2)
Guest
???????????
KIDS ARE PROBABLY SOLD FOR SEX …..
Might I ask whom is more corrupt? The seller or buyer?
The world is full of bad thinking people in all countries.
Give peace a chance.
Guest
CORRUPTION AT ITS HIGHEST AGAIN. LOOK AT THE PEOPLE ENVOLVED!!!!!
HOW MANY MORE ARE THERE WHO ARE NOT CAUGHT OR ACTING WITH IMPUNITY.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ALTHOUGH SOME PARENTS HAVE BOUGHT THEIR OWN CHILDREN, MANY OF THESE KIDS ARE PROBABLY SOLD FOR SEX WHICH IS LOW AND DISGUSTING AS THESE KIDS MUST BELONG TO SOMEONE?????
AT LEAST THE GOVERNMENT AND THE POLICE ARE DOING SOMETHING WORTHWHILE AT LONG LAST!!!!!