Iraqi authorities have announced that they believe Portugal is amongst a number of European countries where children are being sold via a mega-network of human trafficking.

PJ police and SEF immigration authorities, who are looking into the allegations, were surprised by the claims but said they would carry out the necessary investigations and ask their international counterparts for more information.

According to Iraqi police investigating the situation, every month around 15 children from that country are sold to Europe and the Middle East for between €150 and €3,000.