Indonesian police have recently uncovered a chilling international baby trafficking operation that allegedly sold at least 25 infants to buyers in Singapore since 2023. The crackdown has led to 13 arrests and the rescue of six babies who were on the brink of being trafficked.
Authorities say the babies were initially housed in the Indonesian cities of Pontianak and Tangerang, where their immigration papers were processed before they were sent to Singapore. West Java Police’s Director of Criminal Investigation, Surawan, described the operation in detail, stating that “some babies were even reserved while still in the womb.”
The trafficking syndicate targeted expectant mothers, particularly those unable or unwilling to raise their child. Police reports suggest that some contacts were first made through social media platforms like Facebook, before the conversation shifted to private channels such as WhatsApp. Surawan further explained, “Once born, the delivery costs were covered, then compensation money was given, and the baby was taken.”
The infants, mostly aged around one year, were sold for between 11 million and 16 million Indonesian rupiahs ($673 to £502). The traffickers utilized a network of recruiters, caretakers, and individuals skilled in falsifying birth documents such as family cards and passports.
“These babies were then kept in care for two to three months before being sent to various locations including Jakarta and Pontianak for document processing,” Surawan revealed.
The police investigation uncovered that, of the 25 babies sold, 12 were male, and 13 were female, with many coming from various regions in West Java. Authorities are now focusing on locating the adopters in Singapore, with plans to verify the details of those who received the babies.
Surawan assured that while there was no evidence of kidnapping, some parents may have agreed to sell their children due to financial hardship. “If it is proven there was an agreement between the parents and the perpetrators, they can be charged with child protection crimes and human trafficking offenses,” he added.
The Indonesian authorities have turned to Interpol and their Singaporean counterparts for assistance in capturing the remaining members of the syndicate and identifying the buyers. In a statement, Surawan mentioned, “We will list the perpetrators as wanted persons and issue a red notice to law enforcement in those countries.”
This case is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of women in dire circumstances. Ai Rahmayanti, a commissioner from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), highlighted that trafficking syndicates often target women experiencing personal crises, such as sexual violence or abandonment. Rahmayanti added, “These clinics or shelters use language that sounds compassionate at first, such as ‘you can give birth and take your baby home’, but in reality, they offer money and illegally transfer custody.”
Although official statistics on the number of babies trafficked remain scarce, KPAI has noted a troubling increase in trafficking cases under the guise of illegal adoption. In 2023 alone, the commission recorded 59 incidents of child abduction and trafficking, a significant rise from 11 cases in 2020.
Surawan stated that police are investigating how babies’ nationalities are being changed and are in the process of locating their missing passports. As they continue their investigation, the police remain committed to exposing the full extent of the trafficking network and securing justice for the victims.
