France: five babies sold to childless couples recovered by police

French investigators of human trafficking have recovered five babies allegedly sold for Ђ5,000-Ђ6,000 ($5,970-$7,160) by their mothers to couples without children. The babies, aged about 1, were in good health and had not been mistreated. Several couples were in custody, police said.

Investigators from a police office against human trafficking recovered the infants in sweeps Tuesday in the Paris region and in Brittany in northwest France, the AP reports.

The babies were found in camps set up by travelers, police said. Childless couples from the travelers' community allegedly bought the babies.

The investigation was opened in 2004 when a Bulgarian woman who sold her baby but then was filled with remorse alerted authorities. A.M.