A young couple who were house-hunting online got more than they bargained for after coming across a bizarre advert.
The pair, from Moscow in Russia, were searching around on the internet for a “small home” to buy, and ended up venturing off into the animals category – which led to the cats section.
And it was there that they found an advert for a five-year-old boy for sale.
READ MORE: Copies of Prince Harry's book found 'unwanted' on Facebook Marketplace for a fiver
According to Russia's Moskovskij Komsomolets (MK) news outlet, Matvey, 33, claimed that the ad showed a photo of a young boy smiling along with the words “Seryozha – buy in Moscow”.
It also said that the price for the youngster was available on request, alongside a phone number and the female seller's name.
The couple called the police and handed in a written statement.
An investigation has now begun, with MK hinting that it could be an “evil joke” or “something more serious”.
This is not the first time this kind of thing has happened in Russia, either.
In July, 2022, a mum sold her newborn baby to pay for a £3,000 nose job.
According to police reports, the mum took a small deposit of £274 from a couple who agreed just five days after his birth on April 25, to take the infant off her hands.
Soon after purchasing the boy, he fell unwell and the couple were asked for his birth certificate by medics when taking him to hospital.
-
Russia 'publicly executing' their own soldiers who disobey Vladimir Putin
Getting their hands on it cost them the equivalent of £1,370, with the mum negotiating a price based on the cost of a nose job, the couple claimed following their arrest.
But before the couple could hand over the remainder of the total £2,730 fee, police arrested the group for human trafficking.
In a statement, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Dagestan said: “The investigating authorities of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Dagestan have initiated a criminal case against a 33-year-old resident of the city of Kaspiysk.
-
Ex-hotdog chef could be next Russian despot as Vladimir Putin's health deteriorates
“On May 26, 2022, she received the rest of the money amounting to 100,000 rubles.
“Subsequently, information about the crime committed became known to law enforcement officers.
“The suspect was detained in accordance with Art. 91 and 92 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation.”
To get more stories from Daily Star delivered straight to your inbox sign up to one of our free newsletters here.
READ MORE:
- For more of the latest news from the world of the Daily Star, check out our homepage
-
'Don't let ISIS bride Shamima Begum back into UK,' warns top Brit defence expert
-
Copies of Prince Harry's book found 'unwanted' on Facebook Marketplace for a fiver
-
Prince Harry had 'bespoke c**k cushion' made so he wouldn't get frostbitten penis again
-
Met Office issues five days of yellow warnings with 'worst snow in decade' set to hit
Source: Read Full Article
-
Leah Croucher detectives searching house once occupied by paedophile
-
A torch burns for Stan Savige across old battlefields
-
Adam Wooley, who allegedly struck a woman on I-25, faces charge
-
Woman 'comes back from dead' at mortuary and 'dies again' a day later
-
'Thieving couple steal cash' from village church donation box on CCTV