HANGZHOU -- The trial of 26 people, who face charges related to the trafficking of 26 infants, began Wednesday in east China's Zhejiang Province, according to a local court.

The cases are being heard at the people's court of Cangnan County with the intermediate people's court of Wenzhou City, which administers Cangnan, overseeing proceedings.

The principal suspect, a 51-year-old man from Cangnan, identified by his surname Zhang, confessed that he and his lover started the business in 2013.

Procurators said the babies were sold for between 10,000 yuan ($1,520) and 100,000 yuan. One baby boy was resold five times, with the first buyer paying 10,000 yuan and last 83,000 yuan.

The defendants, aged between 27 and 79, are from Wenzhou, Fujian and Yunnan.

The Wenzhou court said most of the suspects were only educated to primary school level or were illiterate.

The trial is expected to last until Friday.