2 held on suspicion of buying babies to sell
- Share via
MONTERREY, MEXICO — Police in northern Mexico have arrested a couple accused of buying Mexican babies to sell to U.S. couples for profit, investigators said Wednesday.
Amado Torres, 64, of Harlingen, Texas, and his 25-year-old wife, Maria Isabel Hernandez, are suspected of buying more than a dozen children age 2 or younger, officials said.
Investigator Oralia Mancha said the case was exposed Monday when a woman came to a police station in Reynosa to report her granddaughter missing, spotted Torres and claimed that he had the baby.
Police said they arrested Torres and Hernandez after finding them with the baby at a house in nearby Rio Bravo.
The baby’s mother also was accused of child trafficking after she acknowledged selling her newborn for $3,000, they said.
Officials said Torres and Hernandez had a notebook with a list of babies.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.