Sweden may stop Vietnamese adoptions

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- A trend of Swedish residents adopting Vietnamese children may end soon because of policies of the Swedish government, an adoption official says.

Adoptionscentrum adoption agency head Jan Goransson said the government is concerned with the international adoptions following reports of corruption and questionable adoption practices, The Local said Wednesday.

Goransson said a Swedish government investigation uncovered allegations of Vietnamese parents being paid to place their children up for adoption or not even knowing their children were being offered for a possible adoption.

The adoption official said the Swedish government has no plans to renew the current adoption agreement between Sweden and Vietnam set to expire in 2009.

If Sweden follows through with the reported plans, the country would follow the United States in banning adoptions from Vietnam amid similar corruption allegations.