Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10CAIRO92
2010-01-19 08:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

Update on Baby Trafficking Case in Alexandria

Tags:  KFRD CVIS CMGT CASC KOCI ASEC PHUM SMIG EG 
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VZCZCXRO1483
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #0092 0190858
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190858Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4746
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC
RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS CAIRO 000092 

DEPT FOR CA/FPP, CA/EX, CA/OCS, DS/CR/OCI
ALSO FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM, NEA/RA, NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD
DS/IP/NEA

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION UNITS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CMGT CASC KOCI ASEC PHUM SMIG EG
SUBJECT: Update on Baby Trafficking Case in Alexandria

REFS: (A) CAIRO 2291 (B) CAIRO 1828 and previous

UNCLAS CAIRO 000092

DEPT FOR CA/FPP, CA/EX, CA/OCS, DS/CR/OCI
ALSO FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, PRM, NEA/RA, NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD
DS/IP/NEA

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION UNITS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS CMGT CASC KOCI ASEC PHUM SMIG EG
SUBJECT: Update on Baby Trafficking Case in Alexandria

REFS: (A) CAIRO 2291 (B) CAIRO 1828 and previous


1. (SBU) Summary: Egyptian authorities in Alexandria are quickly
progressing with the investigation of the case described in ref (A).
In addition, to the American citizen husband, the alleged Egyptian
birth mother has been arrested and detained. Arrest warrants have
also been issued for a doctor and an individual identified as the
facilitator in the case. A Coptic priest is also wanted for
questioning. Egyptian State Security Investigative Services (SSIS)
is looking at several other cases in Alexandria that may also
involve illegal adoption and baby trafficking. End Summary.

Some Questions Answered
--------------

2. (SBU) Through an examination of the available evidence to include
cell phone numbers, SSIS determined the identity and location of the
alleged Egyptian birth mother in Cairo. Subsequent questioning
revealed she had become pregnant out of wedlock and had been urged
to keep the child by her work supervisor. The woman worked at a
large, well-known cosmetic company in Cairo and her supervisor was
the head of the Human Relations Office. Her supervisor allegedly
arranged for her to have a Cesarean in a hospital in Alexandria when
she was eight months pregnant and paid all subsequent bills. In
addition, the detained American admitted to the Egyptian prosecutor
that he had frequent contact with a Coptic priest in the period
leading up to receiving the premature infant.

Fugitives
--------------


3. (SBU) In addition to the doctor described in ref (A) who
continues to be a fugitive, SSIS has been attempting to locate the
above supervisor and the Coptic priest at their respective habitual
places of residence. With regards to the latter, the Coptic priest
appeared at the U.S. Embassy to apply for a visa the day after a
subpoena was issued by the prosecutor. He withdrew his application
before he was finger-scanned and interviewed. He appeared at the
Canadian Embassy the following day to apply for a visa. The visa was
issued, but subsequently cancelled when post informed the FPM at the
Canadian Embassy that the Coptic priest is wanted by the Egyptian
authorities for questioning.

FPU and SSIS Cooperation
--------------


4. (SBU) SSIS in Alexandria requested a briefing by the Fraud
Prevention Unit (FPU) on the baby trafficking network that was
uncovered in Cairo and described in ref (B). During a three hour
meeting in Alexandria with senior SSIS officers, the FPM presented
the profile developed by the FPU with regards to the Cairo cases. In
addition, the FPM alerted SSIS of two cases that had been confirmed
to involve newborns given by the Coptic Church to couples seeking
children. One of the cases concerned an elderly Egyptian couple who
had applied for visas with a young boy they claimed as their
biological child. The man subsequently admitted to the FPM that they
had been given the child by a Coptic priest in Alexandria. CCD
checks revealed that the Coptic priest and his wife are U.S. Legal
Permanent Residents.


Comment
--------------


5. (SBU) SSIS in Alexandria is actively pursuing all leads in this
case in an attempt to fully uncover any other potential baby
trafficking networks. The most senior SSIS general in Alexandria is
following the investigation and has solicited the cooperation of the
FPU. Post will continue to report on this case as information is
developed.

Scobey