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Woman arrested as two children are abandoned at Heathrow
01 July 2009
A woman has been arrested in Uzbekistan after two young Afghan children were abandoned at Heathrow airport.
The youngsters, boys aged 11 and 12, arrived on a flight from Tashkent on 1 May. When they arrived at passport control they were unaccompanied and had no travel documents.
UK Border Agency investigators trawled through CCTV footage, which showed they had been travelling with a 49-year-old female Uzbek who apparently abandoned them at Terminal 2 while she transited on to another flight. All three had boarded the plane in Tashkent using false identities.
We work with local authorities to ensure the best care for vulnerable children identified by UK Border Agency Officers at ports Philipe Astle, UK Border Agency
UK Border Agency officers passed this information on to Uzbek immigration officials, and the woman was arrested as she arrived back into Tashkent. She was later charged, and now faces prosecution in Uzbekistan. The children remain in social services care while the authorities arrange for their return to Afghanistan.
The UK Border Agency's Heathrow director, Philip Astle, said:
'Trafficking of children is an appalling crime, and we're committed to doing everything we can to stop it - including working with law enforcement agencies abroad.
'We are having real success targeting the routes used by the criminals who prey on these vulnerable youngsters.
'We work with local authorities to ensure the best care for vulnerable children identified by UK Border Agency Officers at ports.'