**Indonesian police have arrested 13 individuals as part of a crackdown on a baby trafficking ring that allegedly sold at least 25 infants to buyers in Singapore since early 2023. The operation has raised alarm about the manipulation of vulnerable parents and the illicit trade that exploits desperate situations.**
**Police Uncover Major Baby Trafficking Operation in Indonesia**
**Police Uncover Major Baby Trafficking Operation in Indonesia**
**An international baby trafficking scheme has been dismantled by Indonesian authorities, revealing harrowing details of how infants were sold for up to £500 each.**
Indonesian police have dismantled a significant international baby trafficking ring that allegedly sold a minimum of 25 infants to buyers in Singapore since the beginning of 2023. This disturbing operation was uncovered following the arrest of 13 individuals in Pontianak and Tangerang, along with the rescue of six infants, each around one year old, who were on the brink of being trafficked.
According to police reports, the babies were first kept in Pontianak while their immigration documents were prepared before being transported to Singapore. This information was relayed by Surawan, the director of general criminal investigation for West Java Police, during an interview with BBC News Indonesia.
Authorities have reached out to Singaporean law enforcement for insights regarding the buyers involved but have not yet received a response. The trafficking network is said to have targeted parents and expectant mothers who wished to give up their children, often contacting them through platforms like Facebook before shifting the conversation to private messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Surawan stated, “Some babies were even reserved while still in the womb.” After the infants were born, their delivery expenses were covered by the traffickers, who compensated the biological mothers before taking the babies. Police outlined the structure of the syndicate, which included recruiters, caretakers, and those responsible for fabricating civil documents such as family cards and passports for the babies.
These infants were typically housed with caretakers for a period spanning two to three months before being moved to Jakarta and finally Pontianak, where their documentation was processed. The price for each baby ranged from 11 million to 16 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately $673 to £502).
Most of the children sold in this operation originated from various districts within West Java. The police have indicated that their immediate next step is to trace the adopters in Singapore and verify the details surrounding the transferred infants.
Surawan revealed that thus far, no cases have emerged wherein children were abducted; rather, it appears that parents consented to the transactions, likely driven by financial distress. He noted, “If proven that the parents agreed with the syndicate, they could also face charges related to child protection and human trafficking.”
Indonesian authorities are now collaborating with Interpol and pursuing additional arrests of trafficking group members and their buyers still at large in other countries. The risks surrounding such schemes are a pressing concern, as highlighted by Ai Rahmayanti from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission, who explained how traffickers often exploit women in vulnerable situations, such as those experiencing unwanted pregnancies.
This illegal activity is exacerbated by restrictive abortion laws in Indonesia, prompting some women to consider selling their babies instead. Rahmayanti pointed out that fraudulent clinics frequently masquerade as legitimate maternity centers, offering what may seem like compassionate support but are ultimately conducting illegal adoptions.
Although precise statistics on infant trafficking remain elusive, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission has reported a troubling increase in related cases, with their records rising from 11 instances in 2020 to a staggering 59 cases in 2023 alone. As authorities confront this dire situation, the world watches closely, with hopes for justice and protection for the vulnerable children caught in this tragic web of trafficking.
According to police reports, the babies were first kept in Pontianak while their immigration documents were prepared before being transported to Singapore. This information was relayed by Surawan, the director of general criminal investigation for West Java Police, during an interview with BBC News Indonesia.
Authorities have reached out to Singaporean law enforcement for insights regarding the buyers involved but have not yet received a response. The trafficking network is said to have targeted parents and expectant mothers who wished to give up their children, often contacting them through platforms like Facebook before shifting the conversation to private messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Surawan stated, “Some babies were even reserved while still in the womb.” After the infants were born, their delivery expenses were covered by the traffickers, who compensated the biological mothers before taking the babies. Police outlined the structure of the syndicate, which included recruiters, caretakers, and those responsible for fabricating civil documents such as family cards and passports for the babies.
These infants were typically housed with caretakers for a period spanning two to three months before being moved to Jakarta and finally Pontianak, where their documentation was processed. The price for each baby ranged from 11 million to 16 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately $673 to £502).
Most of the children sold in this operation originated from various districts within West Java. The police have indicated that their immediate next step is to trace the adopters in Singapore and verify the details surrounding the transferred infants.
Surawan revealed that thus far, no cases have emerged wherein children were abducted; rather, it appears that parents consented to the transactions, likely driven by financial distress. He noted, “If proven that the parents agreed with the syndicate, they could also face charges related to child protection and human trafficking.”
Indonesian authorities are now collaborating with Interpol and pursuing additional arrests of trafficking group members and their buyers still at large in other countries. The risks surrounding such schemes are a pressing concern, as highlighted by Ai Rahmayanti from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission, who explained how traffickers often exploit women in vulnerable situations, such as those experiencing unwanted pregnancies.
This illegal activity is exacerbated by restrictive abortion laws in Indonesia, prompting some women to consider selling their babies instead. Rahmayanti pointed out that fraudulent clinics frequently masquerade as legitimate maternity centers, offering what may seem like compassionate support but are ultimately conducting illegal adoptions.
Although precise statistics on infant trafficking remain elusive, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission has reported a troubling increase in related cases, with their records rising from 11 instances in 2020 to a staggering 59 cases in 2023 alone. As authorities confront this dire situation, the world watches closely, with hopes for justice and protection for the vulnerable children caught in this tragic web of trafficking.
