2024-08-15 03:56:01
SAN JOSE (AP) — Five officials at a Costa Rican child welfare agency have been arrested on suspicion of trafficking migrant children for adoption, authorities said Wednesday.
Bureau of Justice Director Randall Zúñiga said in a video statement that the case began in 2022 when the child welfare agency’s then-president reported that one of the agency’s regional offices was involved in adoptions. There are violations.
The arrested officers served as lawyers and social workers.
“The investigation determined that these individuals clearly contained false information in the opinions they generated. For example, they stated that the family used drugs in order to exclude the minor from the family and to be able to take him to a care center,” Zu said. Nega commented.
Once the minors were placed in state care, the defendants allegedly filed requests to adopt them or appoint temporary guardians and receive salaries from the government.
Authorities have not said how many children were involved or whether they have been found. Officials also did not specify where the minor immigrants were coming from.
The Deputy Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Human Trafficking and Illegal Migrant Smuggling said it had asked to prevent the officials from leaving the country. Costa Rican authorities have issued an international arrest alert for a sixth official.
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