INDONESIA: Indonesian authorities have rescued six infants and arrested 12 suspects linked to a baby-trafficking syndicate believed to have sold dozens of babies to Singapore since 2023.
The West Java Police’s Directorate of General Crime Investigation uncovered the operation after receiving a report from a parent whose child had been abducted.
“The case originated from West Java and began with a report from a parent whose child was kidnapped. We developed the case from there,” said Director of General Crime Investigation at the West Java Police Department, Police Commissioner Surawan.
According to Surawan, investigations revealed that the syndicate had been operating since 2023, selling babies for between IDR11 million and IDR16 million (approximately S$865 to S$1,258) each.
Police records show that 24 infants are believed to have been trafficked.
Of these, 15 were allegedly sent to Singapore for adoption using forged documents, while the remaining nine are still being traced and may have been trafficked to other countries.
The babies sent to Singapore were reportedly handed directly to adoptive parents upon arrival.
Prior to their departure, the syndicate provided them with falsified documentation to facilitate the adoption process.
Surawan explained that the babies were obtained through various means—some were handed over by biological parents who allegedly did so voluntarily, while others were abducted.
In some cases, buyers had reserved the babies while they were still in the womb, with the syndicate covering delivery costs before taking custody of the newborns.
Police managed to rescue six babies who were about to be sold to Singapore.
Five were found in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and one in Tangerang, Banten.
The infants, aged between two and three months old, were taken to Bhayangkara Sartika Asih Hospital in Bandung for medical care, and are expected to be transferred to a shelter operated by the West Java Social Service.
West Java Police spokesperson, Police Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan, confirmed the arrests during a press briefing on Monday night (14 July).
“The Directorate of General Crime Investigation has dismantled a human trafficking network, with 12 suspects in custody and six infant victims rescued,” he said.
Hendra added that each suspect had a distinct role in the operation—some acted as recruiters, while others were responsible for caring for the babies, handling transactions, forging documents, or arranging transportation—including coordinating the transfer of infants to Singapore.
Police also seized key evidence, including forged identity cards, passports, and other documents linked to the victims.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and that they are coordinating with Interpol to trace additional victims who may have been trafficked abroad.
“We are still working to uncover the full extent of the network, particularly concerning the babies believed to be in Singapore. We will coordinate with Interpol for further investigations,” said Surawan.
This is not the first time a baby smuggling ring to Singapore from Indonesia was reported.
In 2016, three suspects were arrested in Batam for allegedly planning to sell a three-month-old baby boy to Singapore for approximately US$8,000.
In Singapore, couples who wish to adopt must both be permanent residents or have at least one Singapore citizen, while sole applicants must be a citizen or PR.
To adopt a foreign child, applicants must first obtain a dependant’s pass to bring the child into Singapore, according to information from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
This pass allows the child to stay until the adoption is finalised and requires the child’s identity documents and notarised consent from birth parents or a legal guardian.
The notarised consent means the birth parents or guardian give up all parental rights once the adoption order is issued.
In some cases, adoptive parents may need to travel to the child’s home country to meet local requirements before the pass is granted and the adoption can proceed in Singapore’s Family Court.
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