Bandung, Indonesia Sentinel — West Java police have uncovered a baby trafficking syndicate responsible for the sale of at least 44 infants, with many reportedly trafficked to Singapore and several cities across Indonesia.
According to West Java Police Criminal Investigation Director Kombes Pol Suwarawan, authorities are still deepening their investigation into the transnational ring.
“As of today, we’ve identified 44 infants involved, and that number may increase,” Suwarawan said on Thursday (August 8). Of the 44, police confirmed that 27 babies were sold internationally, primarily to Singapore, the remaining 17 infants were sold domestically.
Eight of the trafficked infants have been successfully rescued and are currently under the care of a children’s shelter in Bandung. While one child died due to illness in Pontianak.
“We are continuing to question the suspects and trace further leads,” Suwarawan added.
The syndicate was first exposed in mid-July, when West Java police publicly announced the bust on July 14. Investigators have so far named 20 suspects and are pursuing six more individuals still at large.
Authorities believe the trafficked babies came not only from West Java but also from other provinces. Suwarawan said international connections are still being mapped, while the local trafficking routes have begun to surface.
He also noted a stark contrast in pricing between domestic and international adoptions. “Babies sold locally went for around 10 to 15 million rupiah (approximately $620 to $930),” Suwarawan said.
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Indonesian Police Uncover Baby Trafficking Ring Selling Infants to Singapore
Previously, West Java Police have uncovered a cross-border baby trafficking operation in which Indonesian infants were sold to adoptive families in Singapore for tens of millions of rupiah each. Authorities say the trafficking network has been active since 2023
Some babies were allegedly taken with parental consent, but others were forcibly taken, in some cases, deals were arranged before the babies were even born. “There were instances where the child was ordered while still in the womb, and the traffickers covered delivery costs before taking the baby,” Surawan said.
The case is being expanded with the assistance of Interpol, as Indonesian authorities coordinate with counterparts in Singapore to trace the cross-border links of the trafficking network.
This case has triggered outrage across Indonesia, prompting calls for stronger safeguards against child trafficking and tighter regulation of adoption practices.
(Raidi/Agung)
