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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA VAN ZELLER:
So, we're about an hour away
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from the border,
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trying to make it to Ukraine.
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And we're sort of in
a race against time
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trying to get there
before curfew.
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And we don't know exactly what
the situation is at the border,
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you know, obviously we're
heading towards a war zone.
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So they're all
a little bit on edge.
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(explosions, gunfire)
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NEWSCASTER:
Moscow has now unleashed
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Europe's largest ground conflict
since World War II.
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NEWS CORRESPONDENT:
We are facing
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an unprecedented act
of aggression.
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(boom)
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(siren)
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MARIANA: This isn't my first
trip into dangerous territory.
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(gunshot)
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For nearly two decades,
I've pursued and exposed
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the world's most profitable
black markets.
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But I've never encountered
any product quite like this.
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(baby cooing)
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The commercial
surrogacy industry
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brings in over
$4 billion a year.
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Yet, no one knows exactly how
many babies are changing hands
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around the world.
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The industry is outlawed
in much of Asia and Europe.
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But not here,
in war-torn Ukraine.
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(explosion)
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(scream)
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NEWSCASTER: A basement serving
as a bomb shelter nursery
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for 21 surrogate babies.
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(siren)
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MARIANA: I was shocked to
discover that Ukraine
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is one of the world's
top destinations
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for commercial surrogacy.
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And that many of these
infants trapped by war
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are American babies.
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(horn honking)
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This story sent me on a journey
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to expose the dark side
of this global market,
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where surrogates are being
imprisoned, raped,
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and even left to die,
manipulated by shadowy players,
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who profit from the wombs
of vulnerable women.
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA: So I just got word that
there was a baby who was born
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today in Ukraine,
a surrogate baby.
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Project Dynamo is there
trying to get this baby,
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rescue it,
and bring it to safety.
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BRYAN STERN: Okay, Dynamo!
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MARIANA: Project Dynamo is
a U.S.-based organization
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that has been operating
in this war zone.
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BRYAN: You can probably hear
the air raid sirens,
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'cause they're bombing on
the other side of the city.
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MARIANA: Their mission:
to rescue trapped civilians,
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including surrogates
and newborns.
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I'm due to meet them just
across the border in Ukraine.
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Oh, wow. So these trucks here,
these are all trucks
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that are waiting
to cross the border.
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Trucks full of equipment,
military gear, fuel,
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anything that can assist
with the war.
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♪ ♪
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(siren)
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(siren)
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MARIANA: Mariana van Zeller.
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MARIANA: Yes, Lviv.
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OFFICER: Okay.
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA: Medyka is the busiest
border crossing
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between Poland and Ukraine.
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BRYAN: This is a border
you can walk across.
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So, this is on the target list.
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The Russians really want
to bomb right here.
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They don't because
they're afraid of NATO.
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MARIANA: Thank you!
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BRYAN: But at some point,
there's going to be
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some Russian artillery guy and
he's going to push a button,
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and one day they're going
to hit a border.
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MARIANA: Once I'm through,
I finally meet my contact.
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Bryan Stern, the cofounder
of Project Dynamo.
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It is crazy to me
what you're doing here.
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I mean, you're an American
citizen, right?
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Former Navy, and you're,
you find yourself in Ukraine
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rescuing surrogate
families and babies.
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BRYAN: We've been doing
operations pretty much every day
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since February 24th,
since the day of the war.
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MARIANA: Bryan is uniquely
qualified for this work.
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He's a combat veteran
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and a former
Navy intelligence officer.
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BRYAN: Everyone's
boarding the buses.
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We're bringing people
across the border.
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People need help, and being able
to do rescue operations
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in weird places with
Russian bad guys everywhere
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and artillery and missiles,
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being able to do that
is a skill,
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and we're very good at this.
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MARIANA: Since Project Dynamo's
arrival in Ukraine,
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they've rescued
thousands of people,
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including
68 surrogate-born babies.
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BRYAN: The first one that we did
was premature twin boys.
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They were on ventilators,
feeding tubes, and incubators,
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and the whole bit.
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As we picked them up,
we were taking artillery fire
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from the Russians
at both hospitals.
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It was early days in the war.
MARIANA: Oh, my god!
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Did you ever think, did you
think when you started this
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that the surrogacy industry
would be so big
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and that you'd have to be
a part of so many rescues?
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BRYAN: Honestly, I didn't really
know anything about surrogacy
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when I came here.
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MARIANA: Neither did I.
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♪ ♪
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So before I set off
into Ukraine,
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I track down
a Ukrainian surrogate,
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who is seeking refuge in Poland.
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What did you do
when the war broke out?
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(siren)
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(explosions, screaming)
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MARIANA: More than 7 million
Ukrainians have fled the country
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since the Russian invasion.
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Most are children and women,
including surrogates, like Olya.
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Was it your decision to move,
or were you asked to move
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because you were
carrying this baby?
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(speaking Ukrainian)
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KATE: The second option,
because she was asked to, yes.
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MARIANA: Mm-hmm.
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KATE: The biological parents
were really insistent
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that they have to be moved.
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MARIANA: Olya is
four months pregnant.
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She's carrying a child
for a couple from Seattle,
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who turned to surrogacy
after nine miscarriages.
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Because Olya signed a contract,
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she's not entirely
in control of her body,
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and this reproductive
arrangement is far from unique.
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Today, more than a quarter
of American women
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struggle with
impaired fertility,
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and media outlets are
sounding the alarm.
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NEWSCASTER:
Humans across the globe
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are becoming increasingly
less fertile.
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WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Birth rates
in America have fallen
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to the lowest levels
in about 90 years.
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MARIANA: Science now
offers solutions,
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and surrogacy is one of them,
as seen in advertisements
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that highlight the marketplace
in Ukraine.
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MARIANA: Commercial surrogacy
allows an infertile couple
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to implant their embryo into
a healthy third-party surrogate
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for an agreed-upon price.
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In the United States, that can
cost as much as $200,000.
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While in Ukraine,
Europe's poorest country,
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it's as little as $30,000.
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I think one of the concerns
that people have with surrogacy
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is this idea of the
commercialization of the womb.
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Do you feel like your womb,
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your body is being used
in a, as a product?
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MARIANA: And can I ask you,
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why did you become
a surrogate mother?
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MARIANA: When Olya delivers this
baby, she'll be paid $24,000.
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That's six times
her annual salary.
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A life-changing sum for her.
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But I discovered that Olya
must give birth in Ukraine.
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She can't stay in Poland.
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BRYAN: In a lot of countries,
surrogacy is against the law.
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So, if a surrogate
gives birth in Poland,
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because they don't
recognize surrogacy,
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that baby belongs to her.
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MARIANA: If Olya then
tries to give the baby
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to its American parents,
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she could be charged
with child trafficking
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and the baby becomes
a ward of the Polish state.
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So as crazy as it seems
and it sounds,
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the only way for them
to actually give birth
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to these surrogate babies
is here, being here...
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BRYAN: Correct.
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MARIANA:
...in a war zone in Ukraine.
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That's why Bryan and I
are at the border,
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waiting for an American couple
that's traveled 6,000 miles
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from their home in San Francisco
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to rescue their newborn son,
Vincent,
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who was born to a Ukrainian
surrogate last night
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inside a war zone.
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♪ ♪
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BRYAN: People get killed
out here every single day.
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I mean, just happens.
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They're not safe
until they're safe.
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MARIANA: Bryan and his team
quickly move us
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to an undisclosed safehouse
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outside Ukraine's
westernmost city, Lviv.
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Where I finally get
an opportunity
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to speak with
baby Vincent's parents.
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Did you guys always want to have
kids? Was that always the plan?
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GIO GALERA: Absolutely.
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CANDACE GALERA:
Yeah. Definitely.
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GIO: You know, I mean, obviously
there's the family element
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that are like, "Gio,
it's your turn, you know,
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you're, everyone's getting
to have families now,
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what's going on, you know?"
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And that's kind of the Asian
family thing, I guess.
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MARIANA: It's a Portuguese
family thing, too.
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GIO: Yeah, Portuguese,
too, right?
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But in our hearts, too,
we both wanted children.
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MARIANA: Gio and Candace
have known each other
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since childhood, but it wasn't
until their early thirties
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that they reconnected,
fell in love, and got married.
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When Candace was diagnosed
with uterine cancer,
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the couple turned to surrogacy
to start their family.
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It was too expensive
in the U.S.,
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so they traveled to Ukraine
for the procedure,
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and were told to return
in about nine months.
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(explosion)
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(siren)
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But then, the Russians attacked.
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NEWSCASTER: Across Ukraine,
the invasion set off
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a desperate rush
to take shelter...
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NEWSCASTER (overlapping):
So the biggest attack
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on one nation against another.
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CANDACE: We didn't go to work
for like a month,
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just straight CNN, day, night.
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It was, it was scary. It was
definitely, definitely scary.
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GIO: Right.
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MARIANA: With their baby
in harm's way,
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they knew they had no choice
but to come rescue him.
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GIO: We wanted
to nurture someone.
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We wanted to bring forth a life
and give all the gifts.
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CANDACE: Give love, yeah.
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GIO: All the gifts that we have.
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You know, like, I want
to share that with them.
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And I want to see what comes
out of this, you know?
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And I want to...
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MARIANA: You're making me cry.
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I've met you just
for a few hours,
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and I can already tell you guys
are going to be amazing parents.
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GIO: Thank you.
Thank you so much.
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MARIANA: It's true.
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All the love, I can,
I can see and I can feel it.
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GIO: Yeah. I mean, from the
moment he was a little peanut,
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we could't get him
off our mind.
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The whole concept, you know?
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MARIANA: It is the best thing
in the world.
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GIO: Amen. Thank you.
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00:11:47,582 --> 00:11:50,668
MARIANA: But rescuing Vincent
isn't guaranteed.
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00:11:50,668 --> 00:11:52,003
(air raid siren)
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00:11:52,003 --> 00:11:53,504
BRYAN:
There is no embassy to call.
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It's not here.
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If things go wrong,
it's our problem to deal with.
246
00:11:58,259 --> 00:12:00,678
So, we are very much on our own.
247
00:12:11,606 --> 00:12:14,067
BRYAN: We're rolling
to get baby Vincent.
248
00:12:14,067 --> 00:12:16,736
So the surrogate needs to be
put on ice for a little bit.
249
00:12:16,736 --> 00:12:20,281
And we'll be baby-on-board,
maybe an hour.
250
00:12:20,281 --> 00:12:24,244
MARIANA: Less than 24 hours ago,
baby Vincent was born.
251
00:12:24,244 --> 00:12:28,748
Now, Bryan Stern and his medical
team are on an urgent mission
252
00:12:28,748 --> 00:12:31,125
to get him out of
the war-torn country.
253
00:12:31,125 --> 00:12:32,752
BRYAN: I'm always
kind of nervous,
254
00:12:32,752 --> 00:12:35,213
because things go wrong.
255
00:12:35,213 --> 00:12:37,131
Things just happen.
256
00:12:37,131 --> 00:12:38,883
MARIANA: The plan is for Bryan
to pick up Vincent
257
00:12:38,883 --> 00:12:42,387
from the hospital,
then deliver him to his parents,
258
00:12:42,387 --> 00:12:46,683
who are heading towards a safer
meeting point outside the city.
259
00:12:46,683 --> 00:12:47,934
BRYAN: I don't really
take a deep breath
260
00:12:47,934 --> 00:12:51,062
until I get them out of Ukraine
as soon as we can.
261
00:12:51,062 --> 00:12:55,525
♪ ♪
262
00:12:55,525 --> 00:13:02,073
♪ ♪
263
00:13:02,073 --> 00:13:04,617
Alright, rock and roll.
264
00:13:04,617 --> 00:13:07,620
♪ ♪
265
00:13:07,620 --> 00:13:10,290
(woman speaking Ukrainian)
266
00:13:22,677 --> 00:13:23,678
(phone chimes)
267
00:13:23,678 --> 00:13:27,598
GIO: Oh, man. Hold on.
268
00:13:27,598 --> 00:13:29,350
She's telling us now that
269
00:13:29,350 --> 00:13:34,355
the baby must be given
to our hands only.
270
00:13:34,355 --> 00:13:36,774
MARIANA: The hospital refuses
to release the baby
271
00:13:36,774 --> 00:13:40,445
to anyone other than
his biological parents.
272
00:13:40,445 --> 00:13:43,031
But for Bryan and
the Project Dynamo team,
273
00:13:43,031 --> 00:13:44,907
that's not the only
hurdle they face
274
00:13:44,907 --> 00:13:47,201
in getting Vincent
out of the country.
275
00:13:47,201 --> 00:13:50,913
BRYAN: So, the problem is, is
that the passports say one thing
276
00:13:50,913 --> 00:13:54,584
and the marriage certificate
says something else, correct?
277
00:13:54,584 --> 00:13:56,836
I under--I understand.
278
00:13:56,836 --> 00:13:58,629
Their paperwork is (bleep).
279
00:13:58,629 --> 00:14:00,965
And it'll be Candace's
maiden name, probably,
280
00:14:00,965 --> 00:14:03,134
if I had to guess.
281
00:14:03,134 --> 00:14:04,927
And therefore they're not sure
if they can issue
282
00:14:04,927 --> 00:14:07,805
a birth certificate
in the right names.
283
00:14:07,805 --> 00:14:08,890
Ah, (bleep).
284
00:14:08,890 --> 00:14:10,933
This whole thing is a mess!
285
00:14:13,394 --> 00:14:16,439
MARIANA: These roadblocks exist
for good reason.
286
00:14:16,439 --> 00:14:18,858
(babies crying)
287
00:14:18,858 --> 00:14:23,738
Ukraine produces some 2,000
surrogate births each year.
288
00:14:23,738 --> 00:14:25,782
It's critical that
they make sure
289
00:14:25,782 --> 00:14:28,076
these babies
don't get misplaced,
290
00:14:28,076 --> 00:14:30,745
or worse, trafficked.
291
00:14:30,745 --> 00:14:32,330
(siren)
292
00:14:32,330 --> 00:14:34,457
Project Dynamo is fighting
the good fight,
293
00:14:34,457 --> 00:14:37,960
helping to unite
desperate families.
294
00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,714
But the chaos of war could
have a profound effect.
295
00:14:41,714 --> 00:14:44,759
(explosion)
296
00:14:44,759 --> 00:14:48,596
Pushing the surrogacy market
into less regulated countries.
297
00:14:48,596 --> 00:14:50,223
NEWSCASTER: There's been
a storm of controversy
298
00:14:50,223 --> 00:14:51,891
over the Indian
government's move
299
00:14:51,891 --> 00:14:53,935
to restrict child surrogacy.
300
00:14:53,935 --> 00:14:56,354
It considers it
a "rent-a-womb" industry
301
00:14:56,354 --> 00:14:58,898
that exploits
impoverished young women.
302
00:14:58,898 --> 00:15:01,192
MARIANA: India was once
the top destination
303
00:15:01,192 --> 00:15:06,072
for commercial surrogacy before
the country banned it in 2015,
304
00:15:06,072 --> 00:15:09,575
when it discovered women were
being abused and exploited,
305
00:15:09,575 --> 00:15:14,122
and an untold number of babies
were sold onto the black market.
306
00:15:17,708 --> 00:15:19,919
Thousands of miles
south of Ukraine,
307
00:15:19,919 --> 00:15:22,463
I've heard these horror stories
are taking place
308
00:15:22,463 --> 00:15:25,550
in one of the industry's
newest frontiers.
309
00:15:39,647 --> 00:15:42,567
♪ ♪
310
00:15:42,567 --> 00:15:48,114
♪ ♪
311
00:15:48,114 --> 00:15:54,704
♪ ♪
312
00:15:54,704 --> 00:15:56,747
MARIANA: If I'm going to
investigate the criminal corners
313
00:15:56,747 --> 00:15:58,416
of this marketplace,
314
00:15:58,416 --> 00:16:01,961
I need to speak with people
who know criminals.
315
00:16:01,961 --> 00:16:08,885
♪ ♪
316
00:16:08,885 --> 00:16:11,262
That's why my Kenyan contacts
put me in touch
317
00:16:11,262 --> 00:16:13,639
with these two women.
318
00:16:13,639 --> 00:16:16,934
Do you think that the parents,
the foreign parents,
319
00:16:16,934 --> 00:16:19,020
know that this is happening?
Do they care?
320
00:16:36,495 --> 00:16:39,207
MARIANA: Mary is a former
prostitute who now advocates
321
00:16:39,207 --> 00:16:41,626
on behalf of
sex workers' rights.
322
00:16:41,626 --> 00:16:43,794
Her friend,
who we'll call Michelle,
323
00:16:43,794 --> 00:16:45,630
does not want to be identified,
324
00:16:45,630 --> 00:16:49,634
because she recruits Kenyan
women into commercial surrogacy.
325
00:16:52,094 --> 00:16:55,097
She says it offers an escape
from extreme poverty
326
00:16:55,097 --> 00:16:57,558
if it's done right.
327
00:17:17,286 --> 00:17:23,793
MARIANA: Right.
328
00:17:23,793 --> 00:17:26,629
MARIANA: Unregulated surrogacy
markets are expanding
329
00:17:26,629 --> 00:17:31,175
around the world, especially in
countries like Mexico, Colombia,
330
00:17:31,175 --> 00:17:33,219
and right here in Kenya.
331
00:17:33,219 --> 00:17:34,637
(baby cries)
332
00:17:34,637 --> 00:17:37,807
Mary and Michelle tell me
it can be a very dirty business,
333
00:17:37,807 --> 00:17:40,851
one that operates
in Nairobi's shadows.
334
00:17:40,851 --> 00:17:41,978
Do you hear a lot
of these stories
335
00:17:41,978 --> 00:17:43,729
of women being exploited?
336
00:17:43,729 --> 00:17:46,274
Of them not being paid
what they were told,
337
00:17:46,274 --> 00:17:47,400
violation of their rights?
338
00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:48,776
MARY: Yes. It is right.
339
00:17:48,776 --> 00:17:50,820
MARIANA: Really?
You hear this a lot?
340
00:17:52,405 --> 00:17:54,073
They share horrific stories
341
00:17:54,073 --> 00:17:58,077
of surrogates dying
during childbirth,
342
00:17:58,077 --> 00:18:01,706
others held captive for months.
343
00:18:01,706 --> 00:18:05,793
And all of it for the product
growing in their womb.
344
00:18:10,047 --> 00:18:14,218
The entire process costs tens
of thousands of U.S. dollars.
345
00:18:14,218 --> 00:18:18,014
But many surrogates get paid
as little as 500 bucks.
346
00:18:22,101 --> 00:18:23,311
MARIANA: Who's keeping
the rest of the money?
347
00:18:23,311 --> 00:18:24,395
Because we know that
it's much more money.
348
00:18:25,730 --> 00:18:27,982
MARIANA: The agent is
keeping the money.
349
00:18:27,982 --> 00:18:31,652
These agents are the linchpins
in an underworld supply chain
350
00:18:31,652 --> 00:18:33,070
that connects foreign couples
351
00:18:33,070 --> 00:18:35,281
from Europe and
the United States
352
00:18:35,281 --> 00:18:39,160
with Kenyan doctors
and, of course, surrogates.
353
00:18:51,422 --> 00:18:54,759
MARIANA: Surrogacy isn't
technically illegal in Kenya.
354
00:18:54,759 --> 00:18:57,511
In fact, it's openly advertised.
355
00:18:57,511 --> 00:19:00,848
But there aren't any
specific laws regulating it.
356
00:19:00,848 --> 00:19:03,684
That means couples must hire
costly lawyers
357
00:19:03,684 --> 00:19:07,188
to navigate the country's
child trafficking laws.
358
00:19:07,188 --> 00:19:08,856
Which, ironically,
ends up fueling
359
00:19:08,856 --> 00:19:12,401
cheaper black market operators
like Michelle.
360
00:19:12,401 --> 00:19:13,402
And I'm going to go
around this way?
361
00:19:13,402 --> 00:19:14,403
MICHELLE: Yeah.
362
00:19:15,446 --> 00:19:16,739
MARIANA: Straight.
363
00:19:16,739 --> 00:19:18,949
Tonight, she plans to recruit
another surrogate
364
00:19:18,949 --> 00:19:20,660
from inside a Nairobi slum.
365
00:19:20,660 --> 00:19:22,119
(horn honking)
366
00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:23,537
This way, yeah?
MARY: Yeah, yeah.
367
00:19:28,292 --> 00:19:29,835
MARIANA: Snatchers?
MARY: Yeah.
368
00:19:33,672 --> 00:19:39,637
(horns honking)
369
00:19:40,888 --> 00:19:43,140
(horn honking)
370
00:19:43,140 --> 00:19:45,935
MARIANA: Far away from
Nairobi's tourist districts,
371
00:19:45,935 --> 00:19:50,690
Michelle offers to show me
how she recruits surrogates.
372
00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:51,899
So where are we going?
373
00:20:04,161 --> 00:20:05,830
MARIANA: Why do you think
she'd be a good person
374
00:20:05,830 --> 00:20:06,789
to be a surrogate?
375
00:20:13,003 --> 00:20:14,547
MARIANA: Oh, wow.
376
00:20:14,547 --> 00:20:18,926
It turns out Michelle is a pimp,
377
00:20:18,926 --> 00:20:22,847
and the women she recruits
are prostitutes.
378
00:20:22,847 --> 00:20:27,351
A fact she doesn't mention
to the foreign couples.
379
00:20:27,351 --> 00:20:30,396
Do you think there is a stigma
attached to sex workers
380
00:20:30,396 --> 00:20:33,482
that would make parents perhaps
not want to have sex workers
381
00:20:33,482 --> 00:20:34,942
as their surrogate mothers?
382
00:20:41,449 --> 00:20:43,075
MARIANA: Michelle claims
she's doing this
383
00:20:43,075 --> 00:20:46,746
to empower the country's
desperate women.
384
00:20:46,746 --> 00:20:49,081
Here. Okay. So, Michelle,
do you go out?
385
00:20:49,081 --> 00:20:50,207
Okay, we'll be here waiting.
386
00:20:50,207 --> 00:20:51,584
MICHELLE: Alright.
387
00:20:52,877 --> 00:20:54,462
(car door shuts)
388
00:20:54,462 --> 00:20:59,884
♪ ♪
389
00:20:59,884 --> 00:21:02,261
MARIANA: She went inside.
390
00:21:04,096 --> 00:21:07,391
Here, can you see if
you can hear her?
391
00:21:07,391 --> 00:21:08,601
You can hear?
392
00:21:08,601 --> 00:21:10,394
MARY: No.
393
00:21:10,394 --> 00:21:11,395
MARIANA: Okay, here she is.
394
00:21:11,395 --> 00:21:12,813
Can you hear her now?
MARY: Yeah.
395
00:21:34,835 --> 00:21:36,045
MARIANA: Oh, wow.
396
00:21:42,301 --> 00:21:44,553
MARIANA: Wow. So she's
calling it "my child?"
397
00:21:44,553 --> 00:21:47,181
MARY: Yes. "My child, my child."
398
00:22:04,156 --> 00:22:07,409
MARIANA: Oh, so she, she's,
she's into the idea?
399
00:22:17,836 --> 00:22:18,921
(Mary sighs)
400
00:22:18,921 --> 00:22:20,464
MARIANA: Do you feel good?
401
00:22:28,138 --> 00:22:29,056
MARIANA: Oh, so you want
to go there now?
402
00:22:29,056 --> 00:22:29,890
MICHELLE: Yeah.
403
00:22:34,854 --> 00:22:37,398
MARIANA: In some black markets,
it's hard to tell
404
00:22:37,398 --> 00:22:39,692
the good guys from the bad.
405
00:22:39,692 --> 00:22:42,361
I can't yet decide if I think
Michelle is actually
406
00:22:42,361 --> 00:22:46,532
helping Kenyan women
or just helping herself.
407
00:22:46,532 --> 00:22:50,744
She claims she's liberating them
from the dangers of sex work,
408
00:22:50,744 --> 00:22:52,162
but she may be
steering them towards
409
00:22:52,162 --> 00:22:54,707
an equally dangerous
undertaking.
410
00:22:54,707 --> 00:22:59,712
♪ ♪
411
00:22:59,712 --> 00:23:02,172
The following morning,
Mary takes me to meet
412
00:23:02,172 --> 00:23:04,592
a former surrogate
called Ashley,
413
00:23:04,592 --> 00:23:07,469
who experienced
these dangers firsthand.
414
00:23:18,397 --> 00:23:19,607
MARIANA: About a year ago,
415
00:23:19,607 --> 00:23:22,151
Ashley was approached
by a surrogacy agent,
416
00:23:22,151 --> 00:23:25,529
a well-dressed Kenyan woman
in a fancy car
417
00:23:25,529 --> 00:23:27,239
who began grooming Ashley.
418
00:23:34,371 --> 00:23:37,082
MARIANA: Once Ashley agreed
to carry a child,
419
00:23:37,082 --> 00:23:39,543
the agent took her
to a fertility clinic,
420
00:23:39,543 --> 00:23:41,337
where they implanted the embryo
421
00:23:41,337 --> 00:23:46,008
and promised to pay her
just over 800 U.S. dollars.
422
00:23:46,008 --> 00:23:48,677
Did you want to know any
information about the parents?
423
00:23:58,062 --> 00:24:01,106
MARIANA: Ashley was given
a strict set of rules.
424
00:24:01,106 --> 00:24:03,609
She couldn't tell anyone
what she was doing,
425
00:24:03,609 --> 00:24:05,778
she couldn't contact anyone.
426
00:24:05,778 --> 00:24:09,615
She could never, ever
leave the apartment.
427
00:24:11,825 --> 00:24:13,327
MARIANA: Did you think it was
strange that they didn't let you
428
00:24:13,327 --> 00:24:15,204
get out of the house?
429
00:24:22,670 --> 00:24:24,380
MARIANA: Ashley's rent
was paid for,
430
00:24:24,380 --> 00:24:27,257
and every week,
someone brought her food.
431
00:24:31,595 --> 00:24:32,680
MARIANA: Oh, so you wouldn't
be able to see who it was.
432
00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:33,806
ASHLEY: Yeah.
433
00:24:33,806 --> 00:24:35,140
MARIANA: Even though
they told you the rules
434
00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:39,770
was you couldn't tell anyone,
why didn't you?
435
00:24:50,364 --> 00:24:53,992
MARIANA: What happened next
almost did kill Ashley.
436
00:24:55,953 --> 00:24:58,580
Her body began cramping
and bleeding.
437
00:24:58,580 --> 00:25:00,708
She was going into labor.
438
00:25:00,708 --> 00:25:03,127
Ashley was rushed
to the hospital.
439
00:25:03,127 --> 00:25:04,545
Did they know
you were a surrogate
440
00:25:04,545 --> 00:25:06,422
or did they think you were
just a pregnant mother?
441
00:25:14,513 --> 00:25:15,889
MARIANA: And you never
saw the baby?
442
00:25:15,889 --> 00:25:17,266
You don't remember delivering?
443
00:25:20,811 --> 00:25:24,189
(baby crying)
444
00:25:28,485 --> 00:25:32,656
(heavy breathing)
445
00:25:32,656 --> 00:25:35,200
♪ ♪
446
00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:41,248
♪ ♪
447
00:25:41,248 --> 00:25:42,416
MARIANA: And then you woke up,
448
00:25:42,416 --> 00:25:44,251
and suddenly you were in
a different hospital?
449
00:25:48,756 --> 00:25:52,009
MARIANA: The agent who'd
recruited Ashley was gone.
450
00:26:02,603 --> 00:26:03,687
MARIANA: So they didn't actually
pay you the whole money?
451
00:26:09,485 --> 00:26:11,195
MARIANA: Did you ever think
of going to the police
452
00:26:11,195 --> 00:26:12,988
and telling them
what happened to you?
453
00:26:16,366 --> 00:26:19,828
MARIANA: In this murky industry,
with no clear regulations,
454
00:26:19,828 --> 00:26:23,499
a vulnerable woman like Ashley
had little security.
455
00:26:23,499 --> 00:26:25,125
She never signed a contract.
456
00:26:25,125 --> 00:26:28,253
All she had was the agent's
cell phone number.
457
00:26:31,090 --> 00:26:32,716
(phone ringing)
458
00:26:34,843 --> 00:26:36,053
AUTOMATED VOICE: We're sorry.
459
00:26:36,053 --> 00:26:37,846
Your call cannot be
completed as dialed.
460
00:26:37,846 --> 00:26:40,057
Please check the number
and try again.
461
00:26:40,057 --> 00:26:43,477
(beeping)
462
00:26:43,477 --> 00:26:47,856
♪ ♪
463
00:27:03,705 --> 00:27:07,334
MARIANA: He tells me
to call him Peter.
464
00:27:07,334 --> 00:27:09,878
He isn't the agent
who cheated Ashley,
465
00:27:09,878 --> 00:27:14,299
but he plays the same role
in the surrogacy supply chain.
466
00:27:14,299 --> 00:27:17,052
Why do you use the word corrupt?
467
00:27:23,559 --> 00:27:25,853
MARIANA: But do you think that's
a good thing or a bad thing?
468
00:27:37,823 --> 00:27:43,954
♪ ♪
469
00:28:05,601 --> 00:28:06,643
MARIANA: Wow.
470
00:28:06,643 --> 00:28:08,937
So you recruit
young female workers?
471
00:28:08,937 --> 00:28:10,480
PETER: Young female workers.
472
00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,900
MARIANA: Peter runs a legal
employment agency
473
00:28:12,900 --> 00:28:15,027
that places Kenyan
domestic workers
474
00:28:15,027 --> 00:28:18,155
in households throughout
the Middle East.
475
00:28:18,155 --> 00:28:20,866
But that's not his only
source of income.
476
00:28:31,126 --> 00:28:32,461
MARIANA: I do.
477
00:28:32,461 --> 00:28:35,213
Peter is simultaneously managing
his employment agency
478
00:28:35,213 --> 00:28:38,926
and a black market
surrogacy operation.
479
00:28:43,639 --> 00:28:45,766
MARIANA: Do you make more money
from sending these women abroad?
480
00:28:49,645 --> 00:28:52,564
MARIANA: Even though surrogacy
isn't illegal in Kenya,
481
00:28:52,564 --> 00:28:54,524
doing it lawfully
can be challenging
482
00:28:54,524 --> 00:28:56,443
and cost-prohibitive,
483
00:28:56,443 --> 00:28:59,571
and that's where Peter's
operation comes into play.
484
00:28:59,571 --> 00:29:03,492
As an underworld agent,
Peter is the powerful liaison
485
00:29:03,492 --> 00:29:05,410
between infertile
foreign couples
486
00:29:05,410 --> 00:29:08,205
and some of Kenya's
most desperate women.
487
00:29:08,205 --> 00:29:10,082
And he claims to have
used these women
488
00:29:10,082 --> 00:29:14,378
to successfully deliver babies
to clients from Russia, Turkey,
489
00:29:14,378 --> 00:29:19,716
the Philippines,
and, yes, the United States.
490
00:29:19,716 --> 00:29:22,302
For his part in the operation,
he tells me he receives
491
00:29:22,302 --> 00:29:26,848
somewhere between
$20,000 and $40,000.
492
00:29:26,848 --> 00:29:28,475
Of that money that you receive,
493
00:29:28,475 --> 00:29:30,686
how much of that money goes
to the surrogate mother,
494
00:29:30,686 --> 00:29:32,813
and how much of that money
goes to you?
495
00:29:39,945 --> 00:29:41,279
MARIANA:
I mean, they have a point.
496
00:29:41,279 --> 00:29:42,280
PETER: It's a give and take.
And they have a point.
497
00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:43,573
MARIANA: Yeah.
PETER: Yeah.
498
00:29:43,573 --> 00:29:44,658
MARIANA: Because you are in
the perfect position
499
00:29:44,658 --> 00:29:45,826
to exploit these girls, right?
500
00:29:49,413 --> 00:29:50,872
MARIANA: And so do you?
501
00:30:00,757 --> 00:30:02,134
MARIANA: Peter tries
to persuade me
502
00:30:02,134 --> 00:30:06,555
that he's an honest broker
in a dishonest business.
503
00:30:17,065 --> 00:30:18,608
MARIANA: He tells me
he's not the only one
504
00:30:18,608 --> 00:30:22,154
running surrogates
in Nairobi's shadows.
505
00:30:25,907 --> 00:30:28,660
MARIANA: And why do you think
that is? Why Kenya?
506
00:30:36,376 --> 00:30:37,669
MARIANA: We head to
the safe house?
507
00:30:37,669 --> 00:30:38,503
PETER: Alright.
MARIANA: Okay.
508
00:30:39,963 --> 00:30:47,220
♪ ♪
509
00:30:47,220 --> 00:30:48,930
MARIANA: Peter keeps
his pregnant surrogates
510
00:30:48,930 --> 00:30:54,436
in what he calls a safe house
far outside of town.
511
00:30:54,436 --> 00:30:58,690
Are the surrogate mothers in
the safe house the whole time?
512
00:31:06,448 --> 00:31:11,620
♪ ♪
513
00:31:11,620 --> 00:31:12,829
MARIANA: Are we close?
514
00:31:14,831 --> 00:31:21,004
♪ ♪
515
00:31:21,004 --> 00:31:27,302
♪ ♪
516
00:31:44,194 --> 00:31:45,737
MARIANA: One of the things
that Peter told us
517
00:31:45,737 --> 00:31:49,241
was that he prefers if
the women stay in the house
518
00:31:49,241 --> 00:31:51,827
and don't go out for big walks,
or don't...
519
00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:55,038
MARIANA: He doesn't like it.
520
00:31:55,038 --> 00:31:58,333
I managed to convince Peter
to wait outside
521
00:31:58,333 --> 00:32:03,338
while I interview one of
his surrogates, Sylvie.
522
00:32:03,338 --> 00:32:05,215
So, I know they're outside.
523
00:32:05,215 --> 00:32:06,675
I just want to make sure
that you feel comfortable
524
00:32:06,675 --> 00:32:08,426
and you don't feel pressured
to do anything.
525
00:32:08,426 --> 00:32:10,595
SYLVIE:
I'm not pressured at all.
526
00:32:10,595 --> 00:32:11,763
MARIANA: Do you ever
leave the safe house
527
00:32:11,763 --> 00:32:13,223
or you're here all the time?
528
00:32:13,223 --> 00:32:14,558
SYLVIE: I don't leave the house.
529
00:32:14,558 --> 00:32:15,934
MARIANA: Ever?
530
00:32:15,934 --> 00:32:19,437
SYLVIE: I only go upstairs
where we hang our clothes.
531
00:32:19,437 --> 00:32:20,897
MARIANA: Uh-huh.
532
00:32:20,897 --> 00:32:23,567
SYLVIE: For my exercise,
I do it here.
533
00:32:23,567 --> 00:32:25,402
I walk here.
534
00:32:25,402 --> 00:32:27,696
MARIANA: And so,
you never, ever leave?
535
00:32:27,696 --> 00:32:29,656
SYLVIE: I don't leave.
536
00:32:29,656 --> 00:32:33,451
♪ ♪
537
00:32:33,451 --> 00:32:35,662
MARIANA: Sylvie tells me
she's a single mother
538
00:32:35,662 --> 00:32:39,749
who was desperately searching
for housekeeping work overseas
539
00:32:39,749 --> 00:32:41,626
until Peter convinced her
that surrogacy
540
00:32:41,626 --> 00:32:44,254
would be much more lucrative.
541
00:32:44,254 --> 00:32:46,173
SYLVIE: My kids don't know.
My family don't know.
542
00:32:46,173 --> 00:32:49,926
My mom doesn't know.
Nobody knows.
543
00:32:51,761 --> 00:32:52,888
MARIANA: Mm-hmm.
544
00:32:52,888 --> 00:32:54,931
In fact, Sylvie's family
believes
545
00:32:54,931 --> 00:32:57,601
she is working
in the Middle East.
546
00:32:57,601 --> 00:32:59,603
That's why Peter's
safe house is located
547
00:32:59,603 --> 00:33:01,771
on the outskirts of the city,
548
00:33:01,771 --> 00:33:05,901
far away from anyone who
might recognize Sylvie.
549
00:33:05,901 --> 00:33:07,611
Can I ask you how much money
you're making?
550
00:33:12,115 --> 00:33:13,408
Mmm.
551
00:33:17,537 --> 00:33:20,248
MARIANA: Can I just ask you
if it's more than $5,000?
552
00:33:21,833 --> 00:33:23,668
SYLVIE: You know,
it's less than.
553
00:33:23,668 --> 00:33:25,670
MARIANA:
So it's less than $5,000?
554
00:33:25,670 --> 00:33:27,672
SYLVIE: Yeah.
555
00:33:27,672 --> 00:33:29,674
MARIANA: That may not
sound like much,
556
00:33:29,674 --> 00:33:32,177
but it's a significant amount
of money in a country
557
00:33:32,177 --> 00:33:37,849
where a third of all Kenyans
live on less than $2 a day.
558
00:33:37,849 --> 00:33:40,477
And Sylvie tells me it will
change her children's lives
559
00:33:40,477 --> 00:33:42,145
for the better.
560
00:33:47,817 --> 00:33:49,778
MARIANA: That's what he said.
That's how he said it.
561
00:33:57,953 --> 00:33:59,746
♪ ♪
562
00:33:59,746 --> 00:34:01,873
MARIANA: I came to this
safe house expecting to meet
563
00:34:01,873 --> 00:34:06,169
a deliberately misinformed
surrogate under Peter's control,
564
00:34:06,169 --> 00:34:08,630
but Sylvie knows that
she's likely participating
565
00:34:08,630 --> 00:34:10,757
in a black market.
566
00:34:10,757 --> 00:34:13,176
One with no guarantees,
567
00:34:13,176 --> 00:34:17,973
and potentially life-threatening
risks for her and the baby.
568
00:34:17,973 --> 00:34:21,309
Were you concerned about that?
Did you ask those questions?
569
00:34:25,855 --> 00:34:29,567
♪ ♪
570
00:34:41,496 --> 00:34:42,956
MARIANA: It seems
everyone I've met
571
00:34:42,956 --> 00:34:46,376
is taking calculated risks
for the money.
572
00:34:46,376 --> 00:34:52,757
♪ ♪
573
00:34:52,757 --> 00:34:55,010
(horn honking)
574
00:34:55,010 --> 00:34:59,097
But there's still one missing
link in Peter's supply chain.
575
00:34:59,097 --> 00:35:00,890
So we've been trying to get
a doctor to talk to us,
576
00:35:00,890 --> 00:35:03,101
because one of the things about
the surrogacy industry
577
00:35:03,101 --> 00:35:07,022
is that without, without
doctors, it really doesn't work.
578
00:35:09,065 --> 00:35:11,234
And we've been hitting
brick wall after brick wall.
579
00:35:11,234 --> 00:35:13,653
They stand to lose a lot,
including their jobs,
580
00:35:13,653 --> 00:35:15,405
if they talk about this.
581
00:35:17,574 --> 00:35:22,579
But Peter has convinced
his doctor to meet us today.
582
00:35:22,579 --> 00:35:24,372
I've heard he's super nervous,
583
00:35:24,372 --> 00:35:27,208
but I'm hoping that we can
convince him to talk.
584
00:35:30,462 --> 00:35:32,380
(phone chimes)
585
00:35:32,380 --> 00:35:34,632
Okay. He says he's here.
586
00:35:37,677 --> 00:35:39,971
I think that's him.
587
00:35:48,104 --> 00:35:55,028
♪ ♪
588
00:35:55,028 --> 00:36:01,993
♪ ♪
589
00:36:01,993 --> 00:36:04,537
MARIANA: Okay, Doctor, what do
you think would happen to you
590
00:36:04,537 --> 00:36:06,498
if you were caught?
591
00:36:19,344 --> 00:36:21,304
MARIANA: This is the doctor
that's the linchpin
592
00:36:21,304 --> 00:36:24,265
in Peter's
black market operation.
593
00:36:24,265 --> 00:36:27,352
While Peter oversees
the foreign couples,
594
00:36:27,352 --> 00:36:31,272
the surrogate recruitment,
and the safe houses,
595
00:36:31,272 --> 00:36:34,067
it all means nothing without
a medical professional
596
00:36:34,067 --> 00:36:36,694
who can supervise the pregnancy.
597
00:36:36,694 --> 00:36:38,029
And because the doctor works at
598
00:36:38,029 --> 00:36:40,740
one of Nairobi's best
public hospitals,
599
00:36:40,740 --> 00:36:42,534
he has the perfect cover,
600
00:36:42,534 --> 00:36:44,786
delivering illegal
surrogate babies
601
00:36:44,786 --> 00:36:46,871
without raising suspicion.
602
00:36:46,871 --> 00:36:50,166
Doc, how did you get involved
in the surrogacy business?
603
00:36:55,046 --> 00:36:57,507
MARIANA: And so what convinced
you to do it then?
604
00:37:16,109 --> 00:37:18,445
MARIANA: Sub-Saharan Africa
has the world's highest
605
00:37:18,445 --> 00:37:20,738
maternal mortality rate.
606
00:37:20,738 --> 00:37:25,285
A Kenyan woman is 15 times more
likely to die during childbirth
607
00:37:25,285 --> 00:37:27,996
than a woman in
the United States.
608
00:37:27,996 --> 00:37:30,665
The doctor tells me
he personally knows of Kenyans
609
00:37:30,665 --> 00:37:34,836
who have died delivering babies
for foreign couples.
610
00:37:34,836 --> 00:37:36,379
But because this is illegal,
611
00:37:36,379 --> 00:37:39,924
their families never find out
what happened to them.
612
00:37:41,468 --> 00:37:43,762
Are you getting emotional
talking about this?
613
00:37:45,722 --> 00:37:50,935
♪ ♪
614
00:37:56,941 --> 00:37:57,942
MARIANA: How many other doctors
615
00:37:57,942 --> 00:38:00,945
are out here in Kenya
doing this?
616
00:38:04,157 --> 00:38:05,200
MARIANA: A dozen?
617
00:38:07,744 --> 00:38:09,996
MARIANA: The doctor tells me
he's delivered surrogate babies
618
00:38:09,996 --> 00:38:13,666
for Australians, Canadians,
and Americans,
619
00:38:13,666 --> 00:38:19,214
sometimes five babies a month;
so many that he's lost count.
620
00:38:19,214 --> 00:38:21,049
So why did you agree
to talk to us?
621
00:38:36,689 --> 00:38:41,319
♪ ♪
622
00:38:41,319 --> 00:38:43,363
MARIANA: Sorry, there's
a car that parked
623
00:38:43,363 --> 00:38:46,324
right there with, uh,
smoke windows
624
00:38:46,324 --> 00:38:49,828
that looks very suspicious.
625
00:38:49,828 --> 00:38:50,870
(beep)
626
00:38:50,870 --> 00:38:53,331
Hey, guys, can you hear me
on walkie?
627
00:38:53,331 --> 00:38:54,749
Hi.
628
00:38:54,749 --> 00:38:57,710
Hey, any idea who that car is
that parked right there?
629
00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:00,797
MARIANA:
Nobody came out of the car.
630
00:39:00,797 --> 00:39:03,049
If it's, could be
undercover cops,
631
00:39:03,049 --> 00:39:06,052
it could be a lot of things.
632
00:39:06,052 --> 00:39:09,973
We send someone in my team
to investigate.
633
00:39:09,973 --> 00:39:11,641
Okay, she's walking.
634
00:39:11,641 --> 00:39:14,185
♪ ♪
635
00:39:14,185 --> 00:39:19,482
♪ ♪
636
00:39:19,482 --> 00:39:20,984
Let's see what she says.
637
00:39:26,322 --> 00:39:29,492
MARIANA: They're definitely
checking us out, 100%.
638
00:39:29,492 --> 00:39:33,204
I don't know what you
want to do, move, move or...
639
00:39:33,204 --> 00:39:34,747
Hey, guys, we're not
feeling comfortable,
640
00:39:34,747 --> 00:39:36,583
and Doctor is definitely not
feeling comfortable
641
00:39:36,583 --> 00:39:39,544
with this location right now,
so we're going to move.
642
00:39:39,544 --> 00:39:41,087
I've been in enough
of these situations
643
00:39:41,087 --> 00:39:44,215
where I know when
we're being watched.
644
00:39:44,215 --> 00:39:49,637
♪ ♪
645
00:39:49,637 --> 00:39:52,724
(horn honking)
646
00:39:52,724 --> 00:39:54,892
♪ ♪
647
00:39:54,892 --> 00:39:57,145
Are they coming?
648
00:40:01,316 --> 00:40:03,818
MARIANA: The doctor is
too frightened to continue,
649
00:40:03,818 --> 00:40:08,156
but he gives me a lead
on where to head next.
650
00:40:08,156 --> 00:40:10,742
He says he only
delivers the babies,
651
00:40:10,742 --> 00:40:13,912
he doesn't create
and implant the embryos.
652
00:40:13,912 --> 00:40:17,248
That has to happen inside
of one of the six
653
00:40:17,248 --> 00:40:20,460
state-of-the-art IVF clinics.
654
00:40:20,460 --> 00:40:22,503
We know there's an existence
of this black market,
655
00:40:22,503 --> 00:40:25,673
and this black market doesn't
exist without an IVF clinic.
656
00:40:25,673 --> 00:40:27,008
It just doesn't.
657
00:40:37,143 --> 00:40:40,229
MARIANA: Dr. Joshua Noreh is
the Medical Director
658
00:40:40,229 --> 00:40:42,523
at the Nairobi IVF Center,
659
00:40:42,523 --> 00:40:45,151
the biggest fertility clinic
in the country,
660
00:40:45,151 --> 00:40:46,986
where they perform up to 100
661
00:40:46,986 --> 00:40:49,989
embryo implantations
every month.
662
00:40:49,989 --> 00:40:52,033
But how can you be sure
that the surrogate mothers
663
00:40:52,033 --> 00:40:53,910
that you're implanting
664
00:40:53,910 --> 00:40:56,871
aren't in fact going to be
exploited later on?
665
00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:11,761
MARIANA: Does that bother you,
knowing that possibly
666
00:41:11,761 --> 00:41:14,847
you're a part, a very important
part of this process?
667
00:41:19,727 --> 00:41:22,188
MARIANA: Dr. Noreh assures me
that his clinic
668
00:41:22,188 --> 00:41:25,108
takes great pains
to vet their surrogates
669
00:41:25,108 --> 00:41:27,860
and weed out criminal operators.
670
00:41:27,860 --> 00:41:31,155
But because the IVF process
is highly specialized,
671
00:41:31,155 --> 00:41:34,617
it's clear that at least
one of Kenya's six clinics
672
00:41:34,617 --> 00:41:36,119
is implanting embryos
673
00:41:36,119 --> 00:41:39,038
into the country's
black market surrogates.
674
00:41:39,038 --> 00:41:41,124
What I still don't understand
is how the babies
675
00:41:41,124 --> 00:41:43,167
are getting out of the country.
676
00:41:43,167 --> 00:41:45,795
In Kenya, custody can
only be transferred
677
00:41:45,795 --> 00:41:48,840
to the biological parents
through the court system.
678
00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:51,467
But that can take months,
even years,
679
00:41:51,467 --> 00:41:53,219
which sends
frightened foreigners
680
00:41:53,219 --> 00:41:55,805
into the arms of the underworld.
681
00:41:55,805 --> 00:41:57,098
If it is completely illegal,
682
00:41:57,098 --> 00:41:58,725
then how are the parents
being able
683
00:41:58,725 --> 00:42:01,102
to take the kids
out of the country?
684
00:42:06,315 --> 00:42:07,900
MARIANA:
So the paperwork is forged?
685
00:42:07,900 --> 00:42:09,444
MICHELLE: Yes.
686
00:42:09,444 --> 00:42:10,945
MARIANA: But the doctor knows
the baby didn't come from...
687
00:42:10,945 --> 00:42:11,988
MICHELLE: Yes.
688
00:42:15,491 --> 00:42:17,577
MARIANA: Oh, you pay the doctor?
MICHELLE: Yes.
689
00:42:22,874 --> 00:42:25,084
MARIANA: I came to Kenya
in search of a black market
690
00:42:25,084 --> 00:42:28,546
that operates
in Nairobi's shadows.
691
00:42:28,546 --> 00:42:31,966
Instead, I uncovered
an open secret.
692
00:42:31,966 --> 00:42:35,720
One that takes place
in broad daylight.
693
00:42:35,720 --> 00:42:38,765
This lucrative supply chain
connects couples
694
00:42:38,765 --> 00:42:42,101
with savvy agents who
manipulate poor surrogates
695
00:42:42,101 --> 00:42:44,645
and pay off
some ambitious doctors,
696
00:42:44,645 --> 00:42:49,108
inside the city's
best hospitals.
697
00:42:49,108 --> 00:42:52,487
With so many illicit steps
needed to procure a baby,
698
00:42:52,487 --> 00:42:54,155
it's hard to believe
that couples
699
00:42:54,155 --> 00:42:56,866
from places like
Australia and America
700
00:42:56,866 --> 00:42:59,368
are kept completely in the dark.
701
00:42:59,368 --> 00:43:00,411
Do you think they know that?
702
00:43:02,205 --> 00:43:03,748
MARIANA:
You tell them, look, what you're
doing is actually illegal?
703
00:43:07,335 --> 00:43:08,836
MARIANA: And what do they say?
704
00:43:13,549 --> 00:43:14,467
MARIANA: They do it?
705
00:43:19,514 --> 00:43:24,060
(children shouting playfully)
706
00:43:29,190 --> 00:43:33,110
(sobbing)
707
00:43:33,110 --> 00:43:35,780
NEWSCASTER: And once again,
in the center of Europe,
708
00:43:35,780 --> 00:43:39,534
innocent women, men
and children are dying.
709
00:43:39,534 --> 00:43:41,869
MARIANA: By the fourth month
of the war in Ukraine,
710
00:43:41,869 --> 00:43:44,956
nearly 9,000 civilian casualties
were documented
711
00:43:44,956 --> 00:43:46,958
across the country.
712
00:43:46,958 --> 00:43:50,753
(bell tolling)
713
00:43:50,753 --> 00:43:56,425
This grim statistic wasn't going
to deter one American couple.
714
00:43:56,425 --> 00:43:59,846
GIO: Whether it takes a war
or, you know, whatever,
715
00:43:59,846 --> 00:44:03,891
for us to go through
to get, to get this,
716
00:44:03,891 --> 00:44:05,893
that's nothing to us, no.
It's all worth it.
717
00:44:09,438 --> 00:44:11,524
MARIANA: Unlike Kenya,
there are specific laws
718
00:44:11,524 --> 00:44:14,485
regulating commercial surrogacy
in Ukraine.
719
00:44:14,485 --> 00:44:17,738
These laws are intended to
make sure that every child
720
00:44:17,738 --> 00:44:21,784
is delivered to its rightful
biological parents.
721
00:44:21,784 --> 00:44:24,453
Gio and Candace were initially
having difficulty
722
00:44:24,453 --> 00:44:27,206
proving their relationship
to their son.
723
00:44:27,206 --> 00:44:29,584
But Bryan Stern
and Project Dynamo
724
00:44:29,584 --> 00:44:33,629
were able to clear up
the confusion.
725
00:44:33,629 --> 00:44:35,840
So Candace and Gio just met
726
00:44:35,840 --> 00:44:40,011
the surrogate mother's
mother and son.
727
00:44:40,011 --> 00:44:43,222
The surrogate mother is inside
with the baby,
728
00:44:43,222 --> 00:44:46,267
and this is the moment of
the big, the big meeting.
729
00:44:46,267 --> 00:44:48,436
You know, they're very,
very anxious and nervous
730
00:44:48,436 --> 00:44:51,105
for this moment.
731
00:44:51,105 --> 00:44:52,273
BRYAN: You guys ready?
CANDACE: Yeah.
732
00:44:52,273 --> 00:44:53,399
BRYAN: You guys ready?
GIO: Yes, I'm ready.
733
00:44:53,399 --> 00:44:55,109
BRYAN: You ready,
you want to meet him?
734
00:44:55,109 --> 00:44:59,363
MARIANA: (gasps) Oh, my god!
That's the surrogate mother!
735
00:44:59,363 --> 00:45:06,204
♪ ♪
736
00:45:06,204 --> 00:45:10,458
After years of frustration
trying to conceive,
737
00:45:10,458 --> 00:45:15,880
a 6,000-mile journey,
and a full-scale war,
738
00:45:15,880 --> 00:45:19,592
Gio and Candace are finally
going to meet their son.
739
00:45:19,592 --> 00:45:21,844
GIO: Oh, he's come,
he's coming right now.
740
00:45:21,844 --> 00:45:23,763
BRYAN: He comes.
741
00:45:23,763 --> 00:45:27,767
MARIANA: So this is it!
Oh, wow, the baby's coming out.
742
00:45:27,767 --> 00:45:29,477
BRYAN: Baby Vincent!
743
00:45:29,477 --> 00:45:33,522
♪ ♪
744
00:45:33,522 --> 00:45:34,523
MARIANA: What's the first thing
you're going to do
745
00:45:34,523 --> 00:45:36,150
when you see him?
746
00:45:36,150 --> 00:45:39,570
CANDACE: Baby breath,
just everything. (chuckles)
747
00:45:39,570 --> 00:45:45,409
♪ ♪
748
00:45:45,409 --> 00:45:47,370
BRYAN: He looks just like you.
749
00:45:50,248 --> 00:45:51,832
GIO: That smell,
you know that baby smell?
750
00:45:51,832 --> 00:45:55,628
I want to smell my boy
for the first time.
751
00:45:55,628 --> 00:45:56,921
You know what I mean?
Like, feel that?
752
00:45:56,921 --> 00:45:59,882
MARIANA: Oh, I do.
753
00:45:59,882 --> 00:46:03,761
GIO: And it's becoming
a reality.
754
00:46:03,761 --> 00:46:05,179
(sniffles)
755
00:46:05,179 --> 00:46:07,723
♪ ♪
756
00:46:07,723 --> 00:46:13,270
♪ ♪
757
00:46:13,270 --> 00:46:15,272
Vincent.
758
00:46:15,272 --> 00:46:21,153
♪ ♪
759
00:46:21,153 --> 00:46:23,322
We want to bring forth a life
760
00:46:23,322 --> 00:46:26,450
and give all the gifts
that we have.
761
00:46:26,450 --> 00:46:29,328
Oh, you're...
762
00:46:31,747 --> 00:46:34,292
CANDACE: Oh, he's so beautiful.
763
00:46:34,292 --> 00:46:38,379
♪ ♪
764
00:46:44,885 --> 00:46:46,971
MARIANA: As this American family
makes its way
765
00:46:46,971 --> 00:46:49,348
out of war-torn Ukraine,
766
00:46:49,348 --> 00:46:52,184
there's no doubt that of all
the products I've pursued
767
00:46:52,184 --> 00:46:57,023
in my career, this one
is the most beautiful.
768
00:46:59,275 --> 00:47:03,863
This is a marketplace that isn't
initially motivated by greed,
769
00:47:03,863 --> 00:47:06,741
but by love.
770
00:47:06,741 --> 00:47:11,662
Then why does it go wrong
in so many parts of the world?
771
00:47:11,662 --> 00:47:12,997
Why do you think
it is an industry
772
00:47:12,997 --> 00:47:15,624
that is prone to having
this dark side?
773
00:47:15,624 --> 00:47:16,917
SUSAN KERSCH-KIBLER:
Because it preys on people's
774
00:47:16,917 --> 00:47:19,670
hopes and dreams
775
00:47:19,670 --> 00:47:22,590
in a very vulnerable situation.
776
00:47:22,590 --> 00:47:25,634
Surrogacy is never
someone's first option.
777
00:47:25,634 --> 00:47:28,721
It's always their
very, very last option.
778
00:47:28,721 --> 00:47:30,473
MARIANA: Susan Kersch-Kibler
has been a helpful
779
00:47:30,473 --> 00:47:35,561
and insightful contact since the
very start of my investigation.
780
00:47:35,561 --> 00:47:37,563
She's a commercial surrogacy
advocate
781
00:47:37,563 --> 00:47:41,275
and the owner of Delivering
Dreams International Surrogacy,
782
00:47:41,275 --> 00:47:44,904
the Ukraine-based agency
that employs Olya.
783
00:47:44,904 --> 00:47:48,115
Why do you think surrogacy is
illegal in so many countries,
784
00:47:48,115 --> 00:47:50,993
including in countries
where it used to be legal?
785
00:47:50,993 --> 00:47:54,288
SUSAN: They didn't have
any regulations, nothing.
786
00:47:54,288 --> 00:47:58,501
There's so many intermediaries
taking money,
787
00:47:58,501 --> 00:48:00,252
no standards of care,
788
00:48:00,252 --> 00:48:04,131
no standards of protection
for the women; nothing.
789
00:48:04,131 --> 00:48:08,260
MARIANA: In my experience,
that's true of any black market,
790
00:48:08,260 --> 00:48:12,014
profits are valued over people,
even if those people
791
00:48:12,014 --> 00:48:15,392
are pregnant women
and unborn babies.
792
00:48:17,311 --> 00:48:22,108
Susan believes that outlawing
surrogacy isn't the solution;
793
00:48:22,108 --> 00:48:24,276
regulation is.
794
00:48:24,276 --> 00:48:27,029
But creating new laws to protect
Kenya's surrogates
795
00:48:27,029 --> 00:48:29,698
is far from guaranteed.
796
00:48:29,698 --> 00:48:35,663
Until then, they're at the mercy
of the black market.
797
00:48:35,663 --> 00:48:37,123
And can I ask you, Agnes,
798
00:48:37,123 --> 00:48:39,834
how much money are you making
from surrogacy?
799
00:48:41,961 --> 00:48:44,004
MARIANA: 25...
800
00:48:44,004 --> 00:48:45,881
thousand doll--25,000 dollars?
801
00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:51,053
MARIANA: Agnes is another
sex worker Michelle recruited.
802
00:48:51,053 --> 00:48:52,430
But the payment
she's been promised
803
00:48:52,430 --> 00:48:54,807
sounds extremely suspect.
804
00:48:54,807 --> 00:49:00,187
It's far more than any surrogacy
offer I've encountered in Kenya.
805
00:49:00,187 --> 00:49:01,480
That's a lot of money.
806
00:49:01,480 --> 00:49:04,108
Is she really going
to get $25,000?
807
00:49:13,826 --> 00:49:16,495
MARIANA: Agnes is already
seven months pregnant.
808
00:49:16,495 --> 00:49:19,456
She's carrying a child
for a German couple.
809
00:49:19,456 --> 00:49:22,418
Have you received any money
whatsoever, Agnes?
810
00:49:22,418 --> 00:49:24,086
Nothing yet.
811
00:49:24,086 --> 00:49:26,213
Doesn't part of the money,
should come before?
812
00:49:31,927 --> 00:49:33,345
MARIANA: But that's
really risky,
813
00:49:33,345 --> 00:49:35,264
considering you're already
seven months pregnant.
814
00:49:35,264 --> 00:49:38,309
Are you sure you're going
to receive that money?
815
00:49:38,309 --> 00:49:40,060
I trust Michelle.
816
00:49:40,060 --> 00:49:41,812
MARIANA: You trust Michelle.
817
00:49:41,812 --> 00:49:44,398
From what I've seen,
trust isn't enough
818
00:49:44,398 --> 00:49:48,527
to protect Kenya's surrogates
from exploitation.
819
00:49:48,527 --> 00:49:49,862
And even if Agnes receives
820
00:49:49,862 --> 00:49:52,323
all the money
she's been promised,
821
00:49:52,323 --> 00:49:56,285
her story will be the exception,
not the rule.
822
00:50:06,670 --> 00:50:10,883
(baby crying)
823
00:50:10,883 --> 00:50:12,760
Captioned by
Side Door Media Services