Police arrested a 43-year-old woman in what they say was a plot to hire a private investigator, who turned out to be an undercover officer, to kidnap her 7-year-old son from his foster parents.

Newport Beach police this week announced the arrest of Niveen Ismail on suspicion of soliciting the kidnapping of a child under the age of 14. She was booked in lieu of $500,000 bail. The foster family and the 7-year-old have been placed in protective custody, and police think the woman, who is from Egypt, might have allegedly made other such solicitations.

An undercover cop stood in as a private investigator who reported to police that the suspect had made contact regarding the alleged kidnap-for-hire plot. According to a Newport Beach police statement:

“The plan called for the private investigator to take the child into Mexico and meet Ismail in Tijuana where they would exchange the child for money.”

Ismail was arrested after the undercover officer posing as a P.I. asked to meet with the woman in Newport Beach to discuss details of the plan.

Anyone who might know about any other alleged kidnap solicitations by the suspect was asked to call Det. Penny Freeman at 949-644-3776 or the Newport Beach police hotline at 800-550-NBPD.

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