Ivorian ‘Suitcase Boy’ Reunited with Mother, Granted 1 Year in Spain

F2FA June 09, 2015

suitcase boy
Eight-year-old Ivorian Adou Ouattara (initially identified as Abou, pictured) made headlines, after he was discovered in a suitcase by authorities attempting to cross the border. A month later, a silver lining in Abou’s story has appeared with the reunification with his mother, according to the BBC.

RELATED: IVORIAN BOY SMUGGLED IN TO SPAIN IN SUITCASE

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Adou Ouattara

As Face2Face Africa previously reported, Adou was found by authorities, after his alleged smuggler “hesitated”:

And even though the Father paid a Moroccan courier to carry the suitcase, the boy was discovered by police after the 19-year-old woman appeared “to hesitate” while making her way across the border.

A police spokesman explained, “She seemed to hesitate, and it looked as though she didn’t want to come through the border.

“At first we thought that there could be drug packages, but gradually discovered that it was a human body.”

At the time, authorities said the child was in a “terrible state” due to the lack of air vents in the bag.

Adou Ouattara

Adou’s father reportedly tried to bring him to Spain legally but reportedly lacked the funds to complete the process.

And while his father and the smuggler are still being detained for attempting to smuggle Adou across the border, authorities have decided to grant the boy one year in Spain and have reunited him with his mother (pictured top), after verifying their relationship with a DNA test.

The Mother has reportedly been living legally in the Canary Islands.

Of the reunification, Cueta Juvenile Affairs official Maria Antonia Palomo said, “His mother cried. It’s a very beautiful day.”

Adou’s father is set to be released on bail.

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Last Edited by:Abena Agyeman-Fisher Updated: June 19, 2018

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