Mother in Rivne Sold Her Three Children into Forced Labor for 30,000 Hryvnias

Woman Detained for Handing Over Kids for Exploitation

According to Главком: A 39-year-old woman from the Rivne region was arrested after she sold her three children to an acquaintance for 30,000 hryvnias, intending them to be used for forced labor and begging. The children involved are two sons, aged 9 and 14, and an 11-year-old daughter. Authorities also revealed that the woman had been involved in drug trafficking and had even involved her 11-year-old daughter in that activity.

The incident occurred on June 24 in the village of Klevan, where the mother arranged the handover and received the payment. She was promised an additional 30,000 hryvnias upon the children’s return. Law enforcement officers detained her immediately after the transaction. Child protective services removed all three minors to ensure they were safe from further exploitation.

Searches and Legal Consequences

During a search of the woman’s home, authorities seized glass vials, light bulbs with residue, and a small bag containing a crystalline substance believed to be narcotics. Searches were also conducted at the homes of individuals from whom she had purchased drugs. The woman has been formally charged under multiple articles of the criminal code:

• Parts 1, 2, and 3 of Article 307 (illegal sale of narcotics, including involving a minor child)
• Part 3 of Article 149 (human trafficking of minors committed by a mother for the purpose of exploitation)

The court has ordered her to be held in custody for 60 days without the possibility of bail. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison and confiscation of property. It is worth noting that a similar case occurred earlier in Zaporizhzhia, where a woman sold her young son for forced begging and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

This incident highlights serious issues related to human trafficking and child exploitation in Ukraine.

Despite law enforcement efforts, cases where parents sell their own children for profit remain a tragic reality. The arrest in the Rivne region also reveals a link between drug crime and child exploitation, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to combat these offenses.

This troubling trend of parental exploitation is not isolated. Recently, a similar case emerged in the Volyn region, where a mother was charged for selling her 6-year-old son for a substantial sum. Such incidents reveal a disturbing pattern of human trafficking and child exploitation across the country. To read more about this case and its implications, visit another alarming story of child trafficking.