Eight arrested in Chania for alleged illegal adoption and trafficking ring

Early this morning, shortly after 03:00, the process of hearings for a total of eight individuals concluded at the Chania Courthouse. These individuals were arrested and, according to the report prepared by the Hellenic Police (ELAS), they were accused of forming a criminal organization and engaging in illegal adoptions and infant trafficking.

The procedure, involving two interrogators, was lengthy (it commenced at 08:00 on Sunday).

Those held in custody included a doctor, the owner of an assisted reproduction facility, an embryologist from the facility, the secretary of the institution, as well as a Romanian woman suspected of acting as a "mediator" in illegal adoptions.

Released on restrictive terms were a midwife and a biologist from the facility, an employee at a local clinic, and a foreign national who is also alleged to have acted as a "mediator" in illegal adoptions.

The eight individuals brought before the judicial authorities faced charges of forming and participating in a criminal organization, human trafficking, professional involvement in underage adoption mediation, violations of legislation regarding medically assisted reproduction, forgery, disturbance of family order, fraud, physical harm, and violations of drug legislation.