Single mother caught smuggling baby through airport X-ray machine

A woman has been allowed to return to her native Papua New Guinea after being caught trying to smuggle her two-month-old baby through an X-ray machine in the Philippines on Monday.

Single mother Jenifer Pavolaurea, 25, was detained for questioning after staff at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport saw the tiny boy, who was asleep, inside Ms Pavolaurea's backpack.

The airport's assistant general manager for security and emergency services, Vecente L Geurzon Jr, told the media that Ms Pavolaurea had previously been questioned at the airport for overstaying her visa.

Ms Pavolaurea had reportedly chosen to smuggle the infant because she did not have immigration clearance for him.

In spite of all this, Ms Pavolaurea was released without charge and allowed to return to Port Moresby.

Although X-rays are generally considered reasonably safe for children, a 2010 study carried out by the University of California did find some connection between X-rays and childhood leukaemia.

In 2012 an Egyptian couple were caught trying to smuggle their five-month-old baby in hand luggage, also because they lacked the relevant documents to take him to the United Arab Emirates.