A US woman was caught after allegedly trying to smuggle a newborn baby boy out of the Philippines.
An American woman was allegedly caught trying to smuggle a newborn baby boy out of the Philippines by hiding him in her hand luggage.
Jennifer Talbot, 43, from Ohio, was booked to fly on a Delta Air Lines plane bound for the US at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.
Just prior to boarding, officers inspected Talbot’s oversized carry-on bag where they found a 6-day old baby.
According to reports, Talbot claimed she was the child’s aunt, but could not provide any documentation to prove a familial connection.
The Bureau of Immigration said: “The infant was hidden in the oversized belt bag and (she) did not declare nor present to the immigration inspector during departure formalities.”
The case has been handed over to the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division, where Talbot is expected to be charged with child trafficking.
Immigration chief, Melvin Mabulac, said the baby was in ‘good health’ and medics are now carrying out checks to confirm his nationality.
“We cannot identify the child because there is no travel document so other departments will investigate this,” he said.
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