Over 600 Arrested in China’s Biggest Child Trafficking Raid

Chinese authorities embarked on a massive crackdown on human trafficking—busting a child smuggling network that spans ten provinces. At least 608 people were arrested, and 178 babies rescued.

Chinese state-run media reported on Wednesday that police raided households in Putian in southeastern Fujian Province.

In one village, a suspect paid nearly $9,000 for a baby boy.

Criminal Investigation Division Vice Group Commander of Department of Public Security of Fujian Province Wang Xizhang questions one of the suspects.

[Wang Xizhang, Vice Commander, Criminal Investigation Division]:
"How much did you buy the baby for?"

"More than $7,000."

"Boy or girl?"
"Boy."

"How old is the baby?"

"More than four-months-old."

"How old was he when you bought him?"

"Around 20-days-old."

Another suspect says he did not know the baby he bought was stolen.

"How was I to know? They had documents and all sorts of other things. How could I know that he had been stolen?"

Child trafficking is a moneymaking business. A baby boy can cost up to $8,000, while a baby girl can fetch over $3,100.

Child trafficking is widespread because of the Chinese regime’s population control policy and the traditional bias for male children. This has led to abortions, killings, or baby girls being abandoned—creating a disproportionate male-female ratio in the population.

The imbalance triggers a black market demand for kidnapped or bought baby boys while baby girls are sought after to attract hefty dowries when they marry.