Indonesian Police Dismantle International Baby Trafficking Syndicate Linked to Singapore

Indonesian police have dismantled a major baby trafficking syndicate accused of selling at least 25 infants—mostly to buyers in Singapore—using fake documents and targeting vulnerable mothers online. Thirteen suspects were arrested, and authorities are working with Interpol and Singaporean police to track down remaining perpetrators and adopters.

Indonesian police have uncovered a major international baby trafficking syndicate accused of selling at least 25 infants, predominantly to buyers in Singapore, since 2023. The operation, which exploited vulnerable women and manipulated legal documentation, has triggered alarm over the rising trend of child trafficking in Southeast Asia.

Thirteen suspects were arrested this week in coordinated raids across the cities of Pontianak and Tangerang. Authorities rescued six babies, all under the age of one, who were on the verge of being smuggled out of the country.

According to the police, the syndicate employed a network of recruiters, caretakers, and document forgers to source and traffic the infants. Vulnerable women, including expectant mothers in desperate situations, were targeted online through social media platforms such as Facebook, before communications were moved to private channels like WhatsApp. In many cases, babies were “reserved” while still in the womb.

“Some mothers were contacted during their pregnancies. Once the babies were born, the traffickers covered the delivery costs, paid compensation to the parents, and took the babies,” said Surawan, Director of General Criminal Investigation for West Java Police, speaking to BBC News Indonesia.

Once taken from their mothers, the babies were moved to caretakers for two to three months before being transported to Jakarta and then Pontianak. There, fraudulent civil documents including birth certificates, family cards, and passports were prepared to facilitate their illegal export.

The babies were reportedly sold for between 11 million and 16 million rupiah (approximately £505 to £735). Some infants were also trafficked domestically across various districts in West Java.

Authorities are now cooperating with Interpol and Singaporean police to identify the adopters and track down other members of the syndicate who may be operating abroad. “We will cross-check travel records and issue red notices to ensure those involved are held accountable,” Surawan said. He also noted that many of the trafficked infants appeared to have had their nationalities changed.

In a rare development, Indonesian police said that some parents who agreed to sell their children may also face prosecution under child protection and anti-human trafficking laws. Surawan clarified that cases initially reported as kidnapping were often based on disputes where brokers failed to pay the agreed compensation to the parents.

Ai Rahmayanti, Commissioner of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), warned that such trafficking networks often disguise themselves as maternity clinics or social shelters. “They lure women by presenting as support centres, but in reality, they are buying babies under the guise of compassion,” she told the BBC. Many of the women targeted are victims of sexual violence, abandonment, or unplanned pregnancies, she added.

While Indonesia has no centralised data on the number of babies sold illegally, KPAI recorded a sharp rise in related cases — from 11 in 2020 to 59 in 2023. Recent incidents have been reported in cities such as Depok and Bali, where babies were being sold for up to 26 million rupiah, depending on physical characteristics and demand.

As investigations continue, Indonesian authorities remain determined to dismantle remaining trafficking networks and strengthen protections for vulnerable women and children. They are urging international cooperation to bring all involved parties to justice.