A 22-year-old mother who sold her 8-month-old daughter for $10,000 was arrested in Fergana, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

The incident happened in the Uchkuprik district of Fergana. She was caught red-handed by the employees of the SSS and MIA while selling her daughter, born in August 2022, for $10,000. Reportedly, the woman decided to do so because her family situation was not improving and she was struggling with money.

“There was a woman. She didn’t have children and I wanted to give my child to her because I thought it would be a good deed and because I didn’t have a home,” said the woman.

A criminal case has been initiated against her under Article 135 of the Criminal Code (trafficking in human beings) and an investigation is underway.