Police arrest six suspects over alleged child trafficking syndicate in Kasoa

The Central East Regional Police Command has arrested six suspects believed to be part of a child trafficking syndicate following the disappearance of a seven-year-old girl in Kasoa in the Central Region.

Police also rescued a 10-month-old baby during the operation.

In a statement signed by DSP Victor Kofi Dosoo, the suspects were identified as Grace Osei Afriyie, 71, Regina Agyeiwaa, 57, Janet Larbie, 40, Mary Dotsey, 38, Yvonne Twumasi, 32, and Seikena Umar, 32.

The case began on April 10 after the Kasoa Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) received a report that a seven-year-old girl, Kadija Karim, had gone missing while playing.

Police said the child was found the following day and disclosed that Janet Larbie and Seikena Umar allegedly lured her away under the pretext of taking her to see her mother. She was reportedly kept at an undisclosed location before being returned to Kasoa in a taxi and warned not to speak about the incident.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Larbie, Dotsey, Twumasi and Umar.

Police are, however, still searching for Lucinda Naomi Otchere, believed to be the leader of the syndicate, as well as two other suspects identified only as Adjeiwaa and Hawa.

Investigators also uncovered another case involving a woman who was allegedly tricked into handing over her two children aged five years and 10 months.

According to police, the infant was sold to Grace Osei Afriyie and Regina Agyeiwaa in the Ashanti Region for GH¢35,000.

The two women were arrested on April 28 and the baby was rescued and reunited with the parents.

Janet Larbie, Mary Dotsey, Yvonne Twumasi and Seikena Umar have since been remanded into custody by the Ofaakor Circuit Court, while Regina Agyeiwaa has also been remanded by the Akweley Magistrate Court. Grace Osei Afriyie was granted bail.

The Regional Police Command says investigations are ongoing as efforts continue to track down the remaining suspects and ensure all persons connected to the alleged trafficking network are prosecuted.