Couple Arrested for Selling Newborn Baby for $10,000 One Day After Birth

A Ukrainian woman and her partner have been taken into custody after authorities say they attempted to sell their newborn baby in a shocking human trafficking case.

According to the Ukraine National Police, the suspects were arrested in Mykolaiv, in southern Ukraine, just moments after allegedly handing over their infant daughter and receiving $10,000 in cash.

Police identified the suspects as a 21-year-old mother and her 38-year-old partner, who authorities say is the child’s father. Investigators allege the couple planned to use the money for their own personal needs.

Officials believe the disturbing plan was set in motion months earlier, while the woman was still heavily pregnant. Investigators say the couple actively searched for potential buyers and reached an agreement to hand over the baby girl immediately after her birth.

Law enforcement learned of the alleged scheme early and placed the couple under surveillance, launching a full trafficking investigation. Under controlled conditions, officers allowed the suspects to meet with a prospective buyer, who reportedly provided an initial payment.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said the final exchange took place on January 2, 2026 — just one day after the baby was born. Once the infant was handed over and the remaining cash was exchanged, officers moved in and arrested the couple near the maternity facility.

Video released by the National Police shows officers detaining the suspects and taking the newborn into protective custody.

Both individuals have now been formally served with suspicion under Article 149, Part 3 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which covers serious human trafficking offenses. A court has ordered the pair held in pre-trial detention, though officials noted they may be eligible for release on bail.

Authorities said the operation involved multiple agencies, including migration police, criminal investigators, analysts, and a special-purpose unit in the Mykolaiv region.

While officials have not released details about the baby’s condition, they confirmed the child is now under state guardianship and receiving care.

Under Ukrainian law, the suspects are presumed innocent unless and until a court finds them guilty.