Ep 7. To Catch a Baby Broker

To Catch a Baby Broker is the seventh episode of the third season of Dateline On ID. This episode takes an in-depth look into the shady world of illegal adoptions, as families recount their heartbreaking stories of being deceived by a notorious baby broker.

The episode begins by introducing viewers to one such family - the Johnsons, who had been seeking to adopt a child for years with no success. After trying their luck with multiple adoption agencies, they finally found a woman who promised to help them find a baby for a fee of $15,000. The woman, who went by the name of Mercy Tagoe, assured them that she had connections in Ghana and that she could find them a child within a matter of months.

However, as time passed, the Johnsons became increasingly suspicious of Mercy's dealings. They discovered that she had been involved in a number of shady adoptions in the past, and that she had been arrested and charged with illegal adoption just a few years earlier. When they confronted her about this, Mercy denied any wrongdoing and assured them that everything was above board.

Despite their reservations, the Johnsons decided to trust Mercy and proceeded with the adoption process. However, things took a turn for the worse when they arrived in Ghana to pick up their new child. They discovered that the baby they had been promised was not available, and that Mercy had given them another child in his place. When they tried to question her about this, Mercy disappeared, leaving them stranded in a foreign country with no legal recourse.

The Johnsons were not alone in their experience. The episode goes on to explore the story of another family, the Garridos, who also fell victim to Mercy's scam. They had paid her $22,000 to adopt a baby from India, but when they arrived to pick up their child, they discovered that the adoption had not been properly processed and that the child was not legally theirs.

As the families recount their experiences, viewers are given an inside look into the world of illegal adoptions and the desperation that drives parents to seek out unscrupulous brokers. The episode also features interviews with experts in the field, who shed light on the scope of the problem and the challenges that law enforcement agencies face in cracking down on illegal adoption rings.

To Catch a Baby Broker is a gripping and emotional episode that shines a light on a dark corner of the adoption industry. Through the stories of the families involved, viewers are given a glimpse into the heartache and trauma that can result from trusting the wrong person. It is a cautionary tale that underscores the importance of due diligence and legal oversight in the adoption process.