Guatemalan adoptions linked to baby selling

A lawmaker's sister is charged with human trafficking after 9 kids found

Americas video

Living on the edge in Rio
July 13: Two Brazilian brothers live, sleep and eat in a vertical apartment on an outer wall of a Rio de Janeiro building. NBC's Kurt Gregory reports.

Mass mummy grave found in Peru

Brothers eat, sleep, work on a wall

NBC World Blog

NBC News correspondents and producers around the globe share their insight on news events.

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

updated 4:01 p.m. ET May 7, 2008

GUATEMALA CITY - A Guatemalan congressman's sister was charged with human trafficking after police found nine children in her home awaiting illegal adoption, authorities said.

Lawmaker Gudy Rivera Estrada said he hasn't seen his sister in three years and won't "lift a finger to help her."

Rosalina Rivera Estrada was arrested Tuesday and could face 12 years in prison.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

The children were between 7 months and 1 year old. Attorney General Baudilio Portillo said Wednesday the children were placed in temporary homes while police investigate.

Click for related content

Guatemala suspends adoptions

Guatemala has been the No. 2 source of adopted babies to U.S. parents after China, but the system is plagued with corruption.

The government on Monday froze for review 2,286 pending foreign adoptions.