CRI听力:Chinese Police Rescue 64 Babies Sold by Birth Parents

Chinese police have recovered 64 babies sold to traffickers by their birth parents.

The wide-scale operation, carried out in 6-provinces, has led to the arrest of 171 suspects.

Many of the children are suffering from medical problems.

Chen Shiqu with the Ministry of Public Security says most of the medical issues the children have are results of neglect and improper care.

"We've found the traffickers would feed the newborns vegetables or even instant noodles. Newborns are very fragile after birth and should have been taken good care of, but these traffickers didn't do that. This has made the babies ill. Many of them are facing life-threatening situations."

Authorities say some of the expectant mothers were taken to pig farms to await delivery in an attempt to try to save money.

Many of the mothers are drug addicts.

The trafficking of children remains a wide-ranging problem in China.

In 2013 alone, authorities rescued some 52-thousand abducted children.

A preference for boys and weak punishment for those who purchase children are considered the two main reasons why child trafficking is still rampant.

Under the current laws, people who purchase children are exempt from criminal liability,  provided they haven't harmed the children.