The Spanish Government Delegate in Extremadura, María Teresa Macías, confirmed on 5 November that two missing minors had been found in Portugal . The children are connected to an investigation into the alleged sale of minors, which led to arrests on 4 November in the provinces of Badajoz and Jaén . The authorities said the two children had been taken into the care of the Portuguese authorities. Further details about their identities or ages have not been released for safeguarding reasons.
The investigation is being conducted by Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil . On 4 November, officers searched several addresses in the province of Badajoz, including in Montijo and in the city of Badajoz, as well as in Linares in the province of Jaén. A total of six people were arrested during the operation. The authorities initially declined to specify the exact offences alleged against the suspects, citing the ongoing investigation.
Macías highlighted the cooperation with the Portuguese authorities. The cross-border location of the two children on 5 November shows that investigators were pursuing various leads outside Spain too. It remained unclear whether, and to what extent, the Portuguese authorities had identified other affected people. The Spanish investigating authorities said they would release further information after additional measures and court orders had been completed.
According to the official account, the operation is targeting an alleged network suspected of illegally arranging placements for minors. Media reports about individual family backgrounds and possible forms of offending have neither been confirmed nor discussed in detail by the authorities. The legal assessment, the precise definition of the offences and any possible charges now depend on the analysis of the evidence seized and decisions by the courts in Badajoz and Jaén.
What is known at this stage is that searches and six arrests took place on 4 November in Badajoz, Montijo and Linares. On 5 November, two of the missing minors were found in Portugal and handed over to the care of the local child-protection services. No further information about their health, whereabouts or return after crossing the border has been provided for child-protection reasons. The authorities have made no predictions about what happens next, referring to the ongoing investigation and judicial oversight.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).