The Mediterranean Fertility Institute, surrogacy clinic in Crete, was searched by the police for suspected human trafficking and fraud, and the entire medical team was arrested and taken to prison on charges of child trafficking.
According to the Greek police, a group of traffickers co-opted 160 poor women -Ukrainian, Romanian, Moldavian, Albanian and Georgian- convincing them to provide egg cells and lend themselves as wombs for rent for a few tens of euros per month, housing them in a semi-clandestine manner in some apartment blocks on the island.
Those arrested are allegedly charged with human trafficking, illegal adoption, purchase and sale of genetic material or embryos, falsification of medical records for the purpose of selling genetic material, falsified medical certificates and other offences. For each child produced, the clinic would have collected between 70,000 and 120,000 euro.
Half of the principals would be Australians: according to the newspaper The Australian about ten couples are currently prevented from seeing their newborn babies, who have been transferred by the Greek government to a high-security section of a hospital in Crete. The principals would be pending DNA test confirming the biological connection to the children as well as permission from the district attorney's office to bring the children to Australia. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs is providing them with assistance through the consulate.
The Mediterranean Fertility Institute is one of the largest providers of surrogacy in Greece. The seizure of the clinic is currently estimated to affect up to 150 Australian citizens who have paid to have children through gestation for others, a practice permitted in their country but only if 'altruistic'.
Maria Celeste
Original article here