CHINA> Regional
Hubei plans mission to rescue kidnapped children
By Wang Huazhong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-22 07:47

Wuhan rail officers have rescued 23 children, some as young as 15 days, and detained 18 suspects and 21 illegal adopters since May 31.

Hubei plans mission to rescue kidnapped children

A policewoman plays with babies they rescued from human traffickers in Hubei province, June 21, 2009. [Asianewsphoto]

Three baby girls rescued on June 9 were to be sold in Handan, Hebei, a Wuhan railway official said. Blood samples have been taken from the children to help track their real parents using the new national DNA database.

In recent years, more than 100 infants have been snatched in Yunnan by gangs looking to sell them in the central and eastern provinces of Hunan, Hubei and Shandong.

A child can cost 7,000 yuan to 40,000 yuan ($1,000-6,000) depending on gender and age, Wuhan Evening News reported.

The Ministry of Public Security said about 3,000 cases of women and child abductions are investigated each year.

However, experts estimate the number of the kidnapped each year could be as high as 20,000.