In a shocking revelation, Indonesian authorities have uncovered a sophisticated baby trafficking operation that has allegedly sold at least 25 infants to buyers in Singapore since 2023. As part of the crackdown, 13 individuals were arrested in the cities of Pontianak and Tangerang, and six babies, all around one year old, were rescued just before they were to be trafficked. Police Commissioner Surawan provided details to BBC News Indonesia, stating that the infants were initially housed in Pontianak while their immigration paperwork was processed prior to their shipment to Singapore.
The council noted that the traffickers targeted expectant mothers or parents who felt incapable of raising their children, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook for initial contact and switching to encrypted messaging services for further communication. "Some babies were even reserved while still in the womb," Surawan revealed. A persistent pattern was identified where the traffickers would cover delivery costs and offer monetary compensation to the mothers before taking the newborns.
Once separated from their biological mothers, the babies were entrusted to caretakers for two to three months, during which time their fraudulent documents, including birth certificates and passports, were prepared. Police reported that the babies were sold for sums ranging between 11 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately $673 or £502) to 16 million rupiah each, with a total of 12 male and 13 female babies recorded as victims.
The focus of the authorities is now on identifying and finding the adopters in Singapore. Surawan expressed a need to meticulously cross-check records of the babies that departed, stating that insights gathered suggested that many of these children had changed nationality.
In the context of this human trafficking operation, it was noted that while no children had been reported taken by force, some parents had consented to the sales due to financial struggles, creating a potential legal dilemma for them. If found complicit in the trafficking, they could face charges related to child protection laws and human trafficking.
In an effort to apprehend remaining suspects linked to the syndicate outside of Indonesia, local police have sought assistance from Interpol and counterparts in Singapore. As Ai Rahmayanti, a commissioner with the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) pointed out, human trafficking rings frequently exploit women in dire circumstances, including those resulting from sexual violence, abandonment, or unwanted pregnancies, particularly given Indonesia's stringent abortion laws.
KPAI highlighted the increasing trend of child trafficking over the years, with recorded cases rising from 11 instances of illegal adoption in 2020 to 59 incidents in 2023. Rapidly evolving methods utilized by these traffickers include masquerading as maternity clinics or shelters that offer misleadingly compassionate services. This latest operation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive legal frameworks and social support systems to combat child trafficking effectively and protect vulnerable communities from exploitation.
The council noted that the traffickers targeted expectant mothers or parents who felt incapable of raising their children, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook for initial contact and switching to encrypted messaging services for further communication. "Some babies were even reserved while still in the womb," Surawan revealed. A persistent pattern was identified where the traffickers would cover delivery costs and offer monetary compensation to the mothers before taking the newborns.
Once separated from their biological mothers, the babies were entrusted to caretakers for two to three months, during which time their fraudulent documents, including birth certificates and passports, were prepared. Police reported that the babies were sold for sums ranging between 11 million Indonesian rupiah (approximately $673 or £502) to 16 million rupiah each, with a total of 12 male and 13 female babies recorded as victims.
The focus of the authorities is now on identifying and finding the adopters in Singapore. Surawan expressed a need to meticulously cross-check records of the babies that departed, stating that insights gathered suggested that many of these children had changed nationality.
In the context of this human trafficking operation, it was noted that while no children had been reported taken by force, some parents had consented to the sales due to financial struggles, creating a potential legal dilemma for them. If found complicit in the trafficking, they could face charges related to child protection laws and human trafficking.
In an effort to apprehend remaining suspects linked to the syndicate outside of Indonesia, local police have sought assistance from Interpol and counterparts in Singapore. As Ai Rahmayanti, a commissioner with the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) pointed out, human trafficking rings frequently exploit women in dire circumstances, including those resulting from sexual violence, abandonment, or unwanted pregnancies, particularly given Indonesia's stringent abortion laws.
KPAI highlighted the increasing trend of child trafficking over the years, with recorded cases rising from 11 instances of illegal adoption in 2020 to 59 incidents in 2023. Rapidly evolving methods utilized by these traffickers include masquerading as maternity clinics or shelters that offer misleadingly compassionate services. This latest operation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive legal frameworks and social support systems to combat child trafficking effectively and protect vulnerable communities from exploitation.
