Indonesian police have detained 12 individuals after uncovering a disturbing baby trafficking syndicate that reportedly smuggled over a dozen infants to Singapore. The revelation came after a parent reported an alleged kidnapping, sparking an investigation that led to the shocking discovery.
According to Surawan, Director of General Criminal Investigation for West Java police, the ring had been active since 2023. The initial report exposed a suspect who admitted to trafficking 24 infants, some as young as three months old.
“The age range is clearly under one year old, with some three months old, five months old, and six months old,” Surawan told AFP. He revealed that based on travel and civil documentation, at least 14 of the babies had been transported to Singapore.
The operation’s route involved moving infants from across Indonesia to Pontianak city on Borneo island before facilitating their illegal transport overseas. Authorities managed to rescue six babies five in Pontianak and one in Tangerang, a city near Jakarta.
Police conducted arrests across Jakarta, Pontianak, and Bandung, identifying the suspects as part of an organized syndicate. Each member played a distinct role in the criminal network some identified and secured infants from vulnerable parents, while others were responsible for caregiving, shelter, and forging civil registration documents like family cards and passports.
The group specifically targeted desperate parents or mothers unwilling or unable to care for their newborns, offering them money in exchange for the babies. The tip-off came from a parent who initially agreed to give up their child for payment but later reported the syndicate after failing to receive the promised compensation.
This case sheds light on Indonesia’s ongoing battle with human trafficking, a persistent issue in the nation of over 17,000 islands. In 2022, another high-profile case saw at least 57 people found caged on a palm oil plantation in North Sumatra, highlighting the dire need for stronger protections and law enforcement against trafficking crimes.
Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the operation and are working to identify more victims and accomplices involved in the cross-border trafficking ring.
