A newborn girl, just seven days old, was found and returned to hospital care in Gandia after being taken from Hospital Francesc de Borja. The incident unfolded late Thursday and led to the arrest of both parents and another family member. The baby had previously tested positive for cocaine, and social services became involved in her case.
Information from the National Police, the father was responsible for removing the infant from the hospital. He was detained after leaving the baby with relatives in Gandia. The mother was initially held at the hospital, then arrested. Police also detained the mother’s adult daughter, who is believed to have helped conceal the newborn from social services.
The Family and Women’s Unit (UFAM) at the Gandia police station coordinated the operation. Officers located the baby, who was readmitted to hospital for observation and care. Her positive test and removal from the hospital brought medical concerns and child-protection responsibilities into focus as investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Valencia has seen several high-profile police operations in recent years, including financial crimes and family-related incidents. For example, a recent major fraud case in Silla resulted in the arrest of four family members accused of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme, underlining the region’s ongoing focus on protecting vulnerable people and investigating complex family situations.
Spain’s child-protection structure is set out principally in Organic Law 1/1996 on the Legal Protection of Minors, substantially amended by Organic Law 8/2015 and Law 26/2015. It distinguishes situations of risk, which may prompt support and supervision, from more serious circumstances in which the competent regional authority can take protective action, including through a declaration of abandonment. A positive test alone does not establish what custody measure should follow. Decisions depend on the child’s circumstances and an assessment of risk. The baby has returned to hospital care as the investigation continues.
