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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi security forces dismantled two human trafficking networks and prevented the sale of two newborn babies in separate operations in Baghdad and Dhi Qar provinces, the Iraqi National Security Service (INSS) announced on Thursday, amid intensified efforts to combat child trafficking in the country.
"In Dhi Qar province, the units set an ambush for a group engaged in selling a one-day-old infant, and arrested four suspects caught in the act after they had handed over the infant and received payment for them," the INSS stated.
"In the capital, Baghdad, the Service carried out a targeted operation that led to the arrest of a network of five suspects, including licensed midwives, caught in the act while attempting to sell a one-day-old infant," the INSS added, noting that all suspects had been referred to the relevant authorities for legal proceedings.
The operations come amid increased efforts by Iraqi authorities to crack down on child trafficking networks.
In late June, the interior ministry announced that authorities had rescued 94 trafficking victims, dismantled 48 trafficking networks, and arrested 1,012 suspects.
During the first nine months of this year, the ministry documented 1,344 human trafficking cases and uncovered domestic and transnational networks operating through digital platforms.
The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR), an independent Baghdad-based monitor, warned in mid-June that shortcomings in victim identification and legal protections continued to hamper efforts to combat human trafficking.
The observatory reported that 385 trafficking victims were identified across Iraq in 2025, including 26 children who were sold, while 5,107 people were detained on trafficking-related charges. The monitor described the disparity as pointing to "a structural failure" in victim protection.
