In a shocking revelation, Indonesian police have dismantled an international baby trafficking operation that has purportedly sold at least 25 infants to clients in Singapore since the beginning of 2023. This operation involved the arrest of 13 individuals in cities such as Pontianak and Tangerang, and the rescue of six infants aged about a year, who were on the brink of being trafficked.
According to Surawan, the West Java Police's director of general criminal investigation, infants were housed in Pontianak where their immigration papers were processed before making their way to Singapore. Initial contact with expectant mothers was often made through Facebook, before moving to private messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Disturbingly, some of these infants were reportedly "reserved" even while their mothers were still pregnant.
"In some cases, once they were born, the delivery costs were covered, along with payments made to the mothers, resulting in the babies being taken away," Surawan explained. Law enforcement has identified various roles within the syndicate—recruiters, caretakers, and individuals responsible for creating fraudulent documents such as passports and birth certificates.
The trafficking operation saw babies being sold between 11 million and 16 million Indonesian rupiahs (roughly $673 to $1,058) each. A portion of those arrested revealed that the syndicate had successfully sold 12 male and 13 female babies, predominantly sourced from West Java. The police's immediate aim now is to locate the adopters in Singapore.
Despite assurances from traffickers that these exchanges were voluntary agreements between parents and brokers, Surawan indicated that it is possible some parents opted to sell their children due to financial distress. If proven, these parents could also face charges related to human trafficking and child protection laws.
To address the issue, Indonesian police have sought help from Interpol and authorities in Singapore to capture remaining members of the syndicate still at large, as well as the buyers. The syndicate's methods involve exploiting vulnerable women—often pressured by financial hardship, unwanted pregnancies, or sexual violence—by disguising themselves as legitimate maternity clinics or shelters.
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has noted how alarming the trend of child trafficking has become, with documented cases of illegal adoptions increasing significantly—from 11 cases in 2020 to 59 in 2023. They assert that illegal clinics prey on desperate circumstances and lead unsuspecting mothers to believe they are being offered legitimate support.
Individuals involved in further trafficking operations continue to be on the radar of both local and international law enforcement agencies as efforts to combat this growing crisis intensify.
According to Surawan, the West Java Police's director of general criminal investigation, infants were housed in Pontianak where their immigration papers were processed before making their way to Singapore. Initial contact with expectant mothers was often made through Facebook, before moving to private messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Disturbingly, some of these infants were reportedly "reserved" even while their mothers were still pregnant.
"In some cases, once they were born, the delivery costs were covered, along with payments made to the mothers, resulting in the babies being taken away," Surawan explained. Law enforcement has identified various roles within the syndicate—recruiters, caretakers, and individuals responsible for creating fraudulent documents such as passports and birth certificates.
The trafficking operation saw babies being sold between 11 million and 16 million Indonesian rupiahs (roughly $673 to $1,058) each. A portion of those arrested revealed that the syndicate had successfully sold 12 male and 13 female babies, predominantly sourced from West Java. The police's immediate aim now is to locate the adopters in Singapore.
Despite assurances from traffickers that these exchanges were voluntary agreements between parents and brokers, Surawan indicated that it is possible some parents opted to sell their children due to financial distress. If proven, these parents could also face charges related to human trafficking and child protection laws.
To address the issue, Indonesian police have sought help from Interpol and authorities in Singapore to capture remaining members of the syndicate still at large, as well as the buyers. The syndicate's methods involve exploiting vulnerable women—often pressured by financial hardship, unwanted pregnancies, or sexual violence—by disguising themselves as legitimate maternity clinics or shelters.
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has noted how alarming the trend of child trafficking has become, with documented cases of illegal adoptions increasing significantly—from 11 cases in 2020 to 59 in 2023. They assert that illegal clinics prey on desperate circumstances and lead unsuspecting mothers to believe they are being offered legitimate support.
Individuals involved in further trafficking operations continue to be on the radar of both local and international law enforcement agencies as efforts to combat this growing crisis intensify.
