The SSU Main Directorate for Internal Security jointly with the National Police have dismantled a criminal organization that sold surrogate babies from Ukraine to foreign countries.

The dealers received up to EUR 70,000 for each child they offered to clients.

In Kharkiv oblast, the participants of the trafficking ring looked for women who for money agreed to become surrogate mothers for foreign nationals.

After birth, the offenders would take the babies abroad using documents in which the women gave their consent to take the infants outside Ukraine, supposedly to close relatives.

According to the investigation, surrogate mums received about EUR 12,000, which was usually significantly lower than the previously ‘agreed’ amount.

However, if a mother did not agree to give up a newborn, the dealers resorted to threats of physical violence or criminal liability.

As a result of the operation, the law enforcement detained the main suspects.

The crime ring consisted of up to 12 individuals, including heads of reproductive medicine institutions in Kyiv and Kharkiv and former law enforcement officers.

The clients were foreigners who, under Ukrainian law, are not married couples and live in countries where surrogacy is prohibited.

During over 40 searches at the suspects’ homes and offices, the SSU seized medical records, copies of passports, draft records, mobile phones and other items with evidence of the crime.

Based on the findings of the SSU’s investigation, one of the detained individuals, a former law enforcement officer, has already been served a notice of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 28.4 (committing a criminal offence by a group of persons, a group of persons by prior conspiracy, an organized group or a criminal organization);
• 149.3 (trafficking in human beings or another unlawful agreement regarding a person);
• 255.1 (creation of a criminal organization).

The activities of the network’s members involved in organizing human trafficking have been documented.

Court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint.

The investigation is ongoing. The suspects are facing up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The SSU carried out the operation jointly with the State Border Guard Service under the procedural supervision of Obolon District Prosecutor’s Office of Kyiv.