Authorities in Portugal have taken a man and a woman into custody following the discovery of two young French boys left unattended along a roadside. The children, both under the age of five, were discovered by a passing motorist near the town of Alcacer do Sal on Tuesday. The boys were found in a distressed state, equipped with backpacks containing food and water, though they lacked any form of identification.

The children had been the subject of an international search after their father reported them missing from their residence in Colmar, France, on May 11. Following the report, a pan-European alert was issued to assist in locating the pair. The discovery in Portugal prompted immediate investigations by law enforcement agencies in both nations to determine the circumstances surrounding the children’s disappearance and subsequent abandonment.

Police tracked the suspects to a café in the city of Fatima, located approximately 180 kilometers north of where the children were found. The National Republican Guard confirmed the arrest of a 41-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man. While the identities of the pair have not been formally released, officials stated that they are currently facing investigations for potential charges including domestic violence, exposure to danger, and child abandonment.