Manila — An American woman was apprehended at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport for smuggling a baby inside her carry on bag.
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration identified the woman as Jennifer Talbot, a 43-year-old American national.
“Infant was hidden in the oversized belt bag and (Talbot) did not declare nor present (the infant) to the immigration inspector during departure formalities,” said Deputy Spokesperson Melvin Mabulac as reported by Rappler.
Talbot slipped past initial security while carrying the 6-day-old baby boy.
Delta Airlines staff discovered the baby inside Talbot’s carry-on bag as she was about to check-in for her flight to the United States.
She hid the baby in her sling body bag and took him out when she entered the first security check point.
Talbot said that she was the baby’s aunt, but she could not provide any documents to support her claims.
The baby, who appeared to be Filipino, did not even have a passport or any identification document.
Officers from the BI handled the situation and detained Talbot.
The baby has been turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and is reportedly in “safe condition.”
Talbot refused to comment without a lawyer.
Ed Monreal, a chief from the Manila International Airport Authority, stated that Talbot clearly had an “intent to hide the child.”
“It’s qualified [as] human trafficking,” Monreal said. -/TISG