Italy busts ‘international child kidnapping ring’

Police in Italy say they have dismantled an
international ring that conspired to kidnap
children involved in custody battles, the
British Broadcasting Corporation reports.
A police statement said those involved were
special forces veterans whose commando-
style tactics “put the child’s life at risk”.
They charged tens of thousands of dollars for
the abductions from North Africa to Europe
using high-speed boats, police said.
Several people have been arrested.
They have been named as Luigi Cannistraro,
Antonio Barazza, Sebastiano Calabrese and a
former Ukrainian sailing champion, Larisa
Moskalenko.
It is alleged that Moskalenko provided the
boats for the crossings.
The group carried out its first operation in
October last year when a child was abducted
in Tunisia, and taken to Norway via Sicily.
A second operation in November was foiled by
police who intercepted the phone calls of Ms
Moskalenko’s sailing venture in Palermo.
Further operations were planned in Cyprus,
Lebanon and Egypt.
Two Norwegians and a Swede are also being
held in Tunisia. They have been named as
Elisabeth Wenche Adresen, Martin Vage and
Per Ake Helgesson.
BBC reports that they could face kidnapping
and human trafficking charges.