**Indonesian police have uncovered a shocking baby trafficking syndicate linked to Singapore, resulting in multiple arrests and the rescue of infants.**
**Indonesian Police Bust International Baby Trafficking Ring, 25 Infants Sold**
**Indonesian Police Bust International Baby Trafficking Ring, 25 Infants Sold**
**Authorities arrest 13 suspects, rescue 6 infants from illegal trade.**
Indonesian authorities have recently dismantled a baby trafficking operation that has allegedly sold 25 infants to clients in Singapore since the start of 2023. This operation has led to the arrest of 13 individuals across Pontianak and Tangerang, along with the rescue of six infants, approximately one year old, who were in the process of being trafficked.
According to West Java Police’s director of general criminal investigation, Surawan, these babies were originally held in Pontianak, where their immigration documents were prepared before being transferred to Singapore. Despite efforts to obtain comments from Singapore's police and home ministry, there has been no response so far.
The syndicate reportedly targeted expectant mothers and parents unwilling or unable to raise their children, using social media platforms like Facebook to initiate discussions that eventually transitioned to private communication on apps like WhatsApp. “Some babies were even reserved while still in the womb,” Surawan explained. Upon delivery, the mothers received agreed-upon compensation, and the newborns were taken.
The trafficking network involved recruiters, caretakers, and fraudsters who forged civil documentation including birth certificates and passports. After the babies were separated from their mothers, they were kept in care for two to three months before being moved to Jakarta for documentation processing.
The selling price of the babies ranged from 11 million to 16 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately $673 to $1,032). Police have discovered that the syndicate sold at least 12 boys and 13 girls, primarily from various districts in West Java. The immediate focus of the authorities is to trace the adoptive parents in Singapore.
Surawan highlighted that, so far, no reports of kidnappings have been confirmed; instead, the arrangement appears to have originated from agreements between parents and the traffickers, often influenced by financial distress. However, parents who later claimed theft did so because they had not received promised payments, leading to potential charges against them as well.
Indonesian police have reached out to Interpol and their Singaporean counterparts to seek assistance in apprehending remaining syndicate members and buyers, issuing red notices for wanted persons. Ai Rahmayanti, from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), noted that these syndicates typically exploit vulnerable women, often targeting those facing unwanted pregnancies due to various forms of social violence or economic hardship.
In Indonesia, abortion is highly restricted, leading some women to resort to illegal baby placement. Rahmayanti emphasizes that these trafficking networks may masquerade as maternity clinics or shelters, misleading women with promises of care in exchange for their infants. While there is no official record of the scale of baby trafficking in Indonesia, KPAI has observed a disturbing increase, documenting 59 cases of child abduction or trafficking under the guise of illegal adoption in 2023, a significant rise from previous years.
According to West Java Police’s director of general criminal investigation, Surawan, these babies were originally held in Pontianak, where their immigration documents were prepared before being transferred to Singapore. Despite efforts to obtain comments from Singapore's police and home ministry, there has been no response so far.
The syndicate reportedly targeted expectant mothers and parents unwilling or unable to raise their children, using social media platforms like Facebook to initiate discussions that eventually transitioned to private communication on apps like WhatsApp. “Some babies were even reserved while still in the womb,” Surawan explained. Upon delivery, the mothers received agreed-upon compensation, and the newborns were taken.
The trafficking network involved recruiters, caretakers, and fraudsters who forged civil documentation including birth certificates and passports. After the babies were separated from their mothers, they were kept in care for two to three months before being moved to Jakarta for documentation processing.
The selling price of the babies ranged from 11 million to 16 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately $673 to $1,032). Police have discovered that the syndicate sold at least 12 boys and 13 girls, primarily from various districts in West Java. The immediate focus of the authorities is to trace the adoptive parents in Singapore.
Surawan highlighted that, so far, no reports of kidnappings have been confirmed; instead, the arrangement appears to have originated from agreements between parents and the traffickers, often influenced by financial distress. However, parents who later claimed theft did so because they had not received promised payments, leading to potential charges against them as well.
Indonesian police have reached out to Interpol and their Singaporean counterparts to seek assistance in apprehending remaining syndicate members and buyers, issuing red notices for wanted persons. Ai Rahmayanti, from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), noted that these syndicates typically exploit vulnerable women, often targeting those facing unwanted pregnancies due to various forms of social violence or economic hardship.
In Indonesia, abortion is highly restricted, leading some women to resort to illegal baby placement. Rahmayanti emphasizes that these trafficking networks may masquerade as maternity clinics or shelters, misleading women with promises of care in exchange for their infants. While there is no official record of the scale of baby trafficking in Indonesia, KPAI has observed a disturbing increase, documenting 59 cases of child abduction or trafficking under the guise of illegal adoption in 2023, a significant rise from previous years.
