A 2-year-old girl discovered in luggage compartment prompts child abuse investigation
A two-year-old girl has been found alive after being discovered hidden inside a closed suitcase stored in the luggage compartment of a long-distance bus in New Zealand, authorities have confirmed.
The shocking discovery occurred on Sunday, August 3, when a bus driver for the InterCity line made a routine stop in the town of Kaiwaka, approximately 60 miles north of Auckland. According to reports, a passenger requested access to the storage compartment beneath the vehicle—leading the driver to unlock the hold.
Upon opening the luggage area, the driver noticed movement coming from one of the suitcases. Alarmed, he opened the bag and found the young child inside.
Detective Chief Simon Harrison described the toddler as being “very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed.” The girl was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where she underwent extensive medical evaluation and remained under observation throughout the day.
Authorities are still working to determine how long the child had been inside the suitcase. A 27-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the incident. Though her identity and relationship to the child remain undisclosed, she has been charged with ill-treatment or neglect.
Court records obtained by Stuff, a local news outlet, indicate that the woman was traveling from Whangārei to Auckland and is accused of placing the child inside the zipped suitcase stored in the bus’s stowaway compartment.
She is expected to appear at the North Shore District Court on Monday, August 4, and investigators have not ruled out additional charges.
New Zealand’s Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki, along with child protection services, have been formally notified of the case.
Entrada Travel Group—the parent company operating InterCity—confirmed the incident in a statement to NBC News:
“Police were called to respond and are investigating the matter. No one was harmed during the incident, and the service resumed.”
Detective Chief Harrison praised the driver for his attentiveness, stating he “noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome.”
According to InterCity’s travel policy, children under two years old may ride for free when seated on a guardian’s lap, while children aged three and above must hold a valid ticket.
The investigation remains ongoing.
