THIS is the jaw-dropping moment a mother and her partner are taken into custody after allegedly trying to sell their newborn baby.
The Ukrainian couple were detained in the southern city of Mykolaiv shortly after handing over the newborn in exchange for $10,000 (£7,450).
Footage shows police securing the perpetrators of this shocking crime in handcuffs.
Security personnel are then seen counting the cash, believed to be the payment for the infant.
Finally, the newborn, wrapped in a blanket, is shown safely cradled in the arms of a state official.
Authorities revealed the suspects are a 21-year-old woman and her 38-year-old partner.
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The pair reportedly intended to spend the money on “their own personal needs.”
Investigators said the couple began sounding out potential buyers while the mother was still in the final weeks of her pregnancy.
They had even agreed to sell the baby after in advance of the birth.
Unfortunately for the scheming couple, the police were aware of the case from the outset.
They promptly launched a criminal investigation and placed the suspects under surveillance.
During this time, the couple met a potential buyer, who made a down payment to secure the infant.
As soon as the child was born, the parents made crooked arrangements to hand over the baby.
The final exchange took place on January 2, just one day after the baby was born.
Shortly afterwards, officers moved in to arrest the couple near the maternity hospital.
The pair have been held under Article 149, Part 3 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which criminalises the most serious cases of human trafficking.
The law covers offences committed by organised groups, trafficking of children, forced organ removal, or acts causing severe harm.
Convictions can carry long prison sentences and possible confiscation of property.
A court has ordered the suspects to be held in custody, with the option of bail.
Authorities said the operation involved several specialised teams.
This includes migration police, criminal investigators, analysts, and a special unit in the Mykolaiv region.
No details have been released about the condition of the child, who is now under state protection.