23 on trial in China's biggest baby-selling case

23 on trial in China's biggest baby-selling case

By Jane Chen | 2010-3-4 | ONLINE EDITION

TWENTY-THREE members of a family-run gang are on trial for their alleged involvement in China's biggest baby-trafficking case.

The gang had allegedly trafficked 49 children in four years and most of the victims have not yet found their parents after rescue by police, today's Shanghai Morning Post reported.

Wuhan railway police in central China are still trying to trace their parents, the report said. The gang was tried yesterday in Wuhan Railway Intermediate People's Court.

They bought the children in southwest Yunnan Province at 13,000 yuan (US$1,904) to 20,000 yuan for each boy and 5,000 yuan to 14,000 yuan for a girl, selling them in north Hebei and Shanxi provinces, the court heard.

The boys were sold for 40,000 yuan each and the girls were traded for 20,000 yuan. Three babies died during the trafficking.

Alleged ring leader Yu Lixiang took part in trafficking 31 children, the court heard. She attracted family and friends into the business.