Couple arrested in UAE for smuggling baby in luggage

UAE airport officials were in for a surprise when a baby showed up in a routine X-ray luggage scan, newspaper Gulf News reported on Monday.

An Egyptian couple has been arrested for attempting to smuggle their infant son into the UAE through Sharjah Airport.

"The baby boy, who is just a year old, had no visa, passport or official documents allowing him to enter the UAE," Gulf News said.

A police official told Gulf News officials were "stunned" when they saw the baby in hand luggage on the scanner.

“This machine is very dangerous for anyone, let alone a baby in a bag to pass through. A case will now be raised against the mother and father, they both have visas to come to the UAE, but they have put the life of their child at risk," he added.

According to Abu Dhabi newspaper The National, the couple were residing in the UAE illegally but travelled to Egypt as the mother wanted to deliver the baby at home.

When they returned, they did not have valid travel documents for the baby so hid him in their bag, the report added.