Ahmedabad: A daily wage labourer couple from Banaskantha allegedly sold their 10-day-old son, citing severe financial distress and the burden of raising a fifth child, police said.

The couple and two suspected traffickers were arrested on Monday, taking the total number of arrests in the child trafficking case to nine. The case is part of a wider child trafficking racket uncovered three months ago, with investigators probing whether the child was born to be sold or if poverty drove the decision.

The racket came to light on January 29, when four accused were intercepted near Ahmedabad airport while allegedly taking a 15-day-old infant to Hyderabad for sale.

Police suspect at least 20 tribal children have been trafficked to Hyderabad over the past two years. Agents operated across remote areas of north Gujarat, including parts of Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts, targeting economically weaker families.

Families were reportedly paid between ₹5 lakh and ₹15 lakh per child, depending on gender, age, and complexion, with fair-skinned newborn boys fetching the highest price.

Several accused, including agents and suspected links to IVF centres, are still absconding. Police are examining financial and hospital records to trace the network’s extent. DeshGujarat