Police arrested 14 people yesterday suspected of arranging illegal adoptions in which the mothers were allegedly paid to give up their babies, according to Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ).

OIJ Chief Jorge Rojas said at a press conference that the detainees – all Costa Rican nationals – included a lawyer, a family court judge and two social workers employed at a San José clinic. Police did not reveal the suspects' identities.

Among the detainees, were also people believed to be would-be parents who had paid a sum of $10,000 to mothers in financial need, The Associated Press reported.

Chief Prosecutor Francisco Dall'Anese said that some of the mothers involved suffer from drug addiction, ACAN-EFE reported.

Police said an investigation into the adoption scheme began early in June 2006 and at least three babies have been “adopted” through the scheme, but police suspect there may be more.

“This trafficking is prohibited by law. Even though it was a direct deal, in which the mother handed over the child, it was in exchange for money,” Rojas said, as quoted by AP.