Indonesian police have successfully disrupted an alleged international baby trafficking syndicate that reportedly sold at least 25 infants to buyers in Singapore since the beginning of 2023. During a recent operation, law enforcement officials arrested 13 individuals linked to the syndicate in the cities of Pontianak and Tangerang, rescuing six infants who were on the verge of being trafficked.
According to Surawan, the director of general criminal investigation for West Java police, the babies were initially housed in Pontianak while their immigration documents were prepared ahead of their transport to Singapore. Authorities are still awaiting a response from the Singapore Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the investigation.
The police commissioner detailed that the syndicate’s method often targeted parents or expectant mothers who were unwilling to raise their children. Recruitment typically began through social media platforms such as Facebook, eventually transitioning to more private messaging apps like WhatsApp. Surawan stated, “Some babies were even reserved while still in the womb,” indicating the extent of the operation.
Once the babies were born, the traffickers would cover delivery costs and compensate the mothers, subsequently taking the infants for their illicit market. The syndicate had members fulfilling various roles, including recruiters, caretakers, and document forgery specialists. These babies were kept for two to three months before being shipped to Jakarta and then to Pontianak, where they received fake civil documents, including birth certificates and passports, prior to being sold.
The trafficking price per baby ranged from 11 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately $673 or £502) to 16 million rupiah ($1,068). Investigators revealed that at least 12 male and 13 female infants had been sold both domestically and internationally, primarily from different areas in West Java.
Surawan confirmed that the immediate focus for police is to identify the adopters in Singapore and establish connections between the infants and their purchasers. The data gathered will help pinpoint the timeline of departures and the individuals who accompanied them, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in this grave situation.
Further insights indicate a more complex issue, with some parents potentially agreeing to the sales due to dire financial circumstances. Police have suggested that these parents could face criminal charges for child protection and trafficking violations if found complicit with the traffickers.
Authorities are collaborating with Interpol and Singaporean law enforcement to track down members of the syndicate still at large, as well as the buyers. Surawan mentioned the intention to issue wanted notices for these individuals, paving the path to justice.
The problem of child trafficking is growing, particularly targeting vulnerable women in Indonesia. Ai Rahmayanti from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) explained that the syndicates often pose as legitimate maternity clinics or shelters, offering false compassion to lure in expectant mothers, which has made tracking these illicit operations increasingly problematic. Despite a lack of formal statistics, KPAI's records indicate a rise in cases associated with illegal adoption and human trafficking, showcasing the need for urgent action against such immoral practices in the country.
