UNDERCOVER police uncovered an attempt by a Russian woman to sell her friend's underage daughter's virginity to the highest bidder.

Alina Kukanova was found guilty and jailed for 3.5 years for trying to sell the 13 year-old girl to a wealthy Emirati for the night.

5 Alina Kukanova, pictured, has been jailed for trying to make the deal

Kukanova was inspired to auction off the young girl by Irina Gladkikh - the girl's mother.

Gladkikh, from the city of Chelyabinsk in western Russia's Sverdlovsk Oblast region, encouraged her friend to search for buyers online.

A "major deal" was almost reached with a man from the United Arab Emirates who offered £18,000 for a night with the teen.

The deal fell through but Kukanova told her friend that she had found another buyer in Moscow.

Irina Gladkikh, the girl's mother, initially suggested the idea

5 The mother is yet to be sentenced

5 She is expected to get up to 10 years in jail

The buyer in Moscow was actually an undercover cop.

The police had spotted the attempts to sell her virginity online and had decided to intervene.

The undercover cop met the women at a Moscow restaurant, handed over fake money and then had them arrested shortly after dinner.

The teenage girl was taken to hospital to be checked over before being handed over to relatives.

5 Irina Gladkikh, pictured

Both women, believed to be sex workers, were unemployed and believed to be trying to finance a lavish lifestyle.

Gladikh, still in police custody, is awaiting sentencing but is expected to get at least 10 years in jail.

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