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Urgent Search Underway After Baby Was Given Away To Woman At Aussie Coffee Shop

Urgent Search Underway After Baby Was Given Away To Woman At Aussie Coffee Shop

Authorities say the 17-month-old's parents gave Hoang Vinh Le to a woman for $200 and she's since vanished with the toddler.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Police are urgently searching for a 17-month-old baby that was allegedly given to a woman at an Australian coffee shop.

Hoang Vinh Le was being cared for by his maternal grandmother, however the boy's parents, Hoang Thanh Le, 28, and Lyn Kim Do, 21, removed him.

The toddler has been ordered to live with the grandma since April 19 earlier this year.

The Australian Federal Police believe Le and Do took Hoang to a coffee shop and paid a woman, allegedly called Kathy Nguyen, $200 to care for him.

Authorities have since taken the parents into custody, however they have found no traces of the toddler.

A statement from the AFP said: "The parents have not provided sufficient details to enable the police to identify the person who they say is caring for Vinh.

"Authorities have not been able to confirm whether the person who may be caring for the child is known by 'Kathy Nguyen' name or exists at all."

Police hold strong concerns for the welfare of the toddler.

They believe the 17-month-old could be in the following areas of New South Wales: Cabramatta, Bankstown and Livepool in Sydney's southwest, or West Wyalong, Temora or Wagga Wagga.

Anyone who is knowingly withholding information concerning the welfare or whereabouts of the child may be contributing to an offence.

Anyone who has seen or may have information regarding the whereabouts of the child are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting AFP reference 6365180.

Featured Image Credit: Federal Circuit Court of Australia

Topics: Australia