Authorities in Costa Rica are searching for a woman who sold her 10-month-old child – complete with birth certificate – for two US dollars to a stranger last week.

The incident took place in Ciudad Quesada, San Carlos, according to authorities.

Apparently, the mother – whose identity is known by authorities but has not been released – roamed the city’s streets last week in search of a buyer willing to pay ¢1,000 colones, or slightly less than US $2, for the infant.

According to Costa Rica’s child welfare agency, PANI, the woman found a willing buyer and handed over the baby along with the child’s birth certificate.

The buyer later went to child welfare authorities along with the infant, hoping to “finalize” the “adoption.”

However, authorities explained to the buyer that the sale or purchase of a child is illegal, and could constitute a crime. Authorities took custody of the child, which is currently in a shelter and in “good health,” according to PANI.

Costa Rican law punishes with between two to six years in prison anyone who sells, or promotes or facilities the sale, of a child, as well as those who attempt to purchase a child.

PANI said that it has filed a criminal complaint against the child’s mother.

However, authorities say that the woman, a resident of Aguas Zarcas, is an alcoholic and was intoxicated at the time she sold the child, and could potentially avoid prosecution by claiming she was unaware of her actions at the time.

According to PANI, a man claiming to be the child’s father has come forward and is seeking custody of baby, but PANI officials must first determine of the man is in fact the child’s father and if he has the basic resources necessary to care for the infant.

PANI officials said that the child’s mother had four other children taken away by authorities in 2013. All four of those children remain in state care because authorities have been unable to place the children with relatives.

Authorities were continuing to search for the woman this week.