China launches child trade raid

CHINESE police arrested 802 people on suspicion of child trafficking and rescued 181 children in a major crackdown spanning 15 provinces.

The ministry of public security said the operation broke up two trafficking rings and that the ringleaders had been arrested.

China has a thriving market for babies, due to its strict one-child policy. The raids followed reports that pregnant women from various parts of China had been seen attending a clinic in the northern province of Hebei, a suspected trafficking centre.

Convicted child traffickers in China face the death penalty.