Mom 'Sells' 5-Day-Old Twin Daughters To Satisfy Her Drug Addiction, Arrested

A woman in South Africa was taken into custody for "selling" her newborn twins in exchange for $4 daily to satisfy her drug addiction. Police said the babies were “dehydrated and severely malnourished” when they were rescued.

Police said that they began investigating the matter after receiving an anonymous tip-off that the woman was looking for buyers for her 5-day-old twin girls.

"Information was received that there was possible human trafficking about to take place as the mother of five-day-old twin girls was reported to be looking for a buyer," Hawks spokesperson Capt Yolisa Mgolodela said, Times Live reported.

Investigation revealed that the woman, whose identity was not revealed, had already given the twins to the buyer. Based on this information, the officers arrived at the buyer’s home Thursday and rescued the babies. The buyer and the mother of the twins were taken into custody.

"The information was followed up and it is said that the mother had already given the babies to the prospective buyer by the time the information was received,” Mgolodela said. He added that the joint team of law enforcement officers followed the lead to a house in Uitenhage, where the alleged prospective buyer was arrested and the babies were rescued, the report said.

“Another arrest was effected on the mother of the twins and another suspect, which brought the number of arrests to three,” Mgolodela added.

The suspects were questioned and it was revealed that the mother had asked the buyer to pay her $4 every day, which she would use to maintain her drug habit, News 24 reported.

The Hawks spokesperson said that it is further reported that “the alleged buyer was going to apply for children’s grant and give a portion monthly to the mother of the twins.”

Police also said the mother had neglected the twins as they were severely malnourished, The South African reported.

"The twins were admitted to hospital for medical attention as they were dehydrated and severely malnourished. They will be taken to a place of safety upon discharge," Mgolodela said.

The suspects remained in custody as of Friday on charges of human trafficking and are scheduled to appear in court Monday where they will be formally charged.