TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Java Regional Police revealed a baby trading syndicate that operated internationally. A total of 12 suspects were arrested in an operation that led to an alleged international human trafficking network that has been operating since 2023. At least around 24 babies are suspected to have become victims of this illegal practice.
Arrest and Evidence Seizure
The West Java Regional Police arrested 12 people involved in the baby trafficking syndicate on Monday, July 14, 2025. The suspects had different roles in this network. Some of them were involved in recruiting babies, even while still in the womb, while others were responsible for caring for the babies, creating fake documents such as birth certificates and passports, and sending the babies abroad.
"We have seized several pieces of evidence, including fake identity documents and passports used for shipping the babies," said West Java Regional Police Public Relations Head, Kombes Hendra Rochmawan, in a written statement, Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Rescued Babies
In this operation, the police successfully rescued six babies who were victims of the trafficking. Five babies were secured in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, which were planned to be sent to Singapore with fake documents. Another baby was found in Tangerang, Banten, a few days earlier. All babies are now under the care of the police.
Organized Syndicate
From the investigation results, it is known that this syndicate has been operating since 2023, and most of the babies who became victims are from West Java. The kidnapping process is suspected to involve taking the babies from their biological parents, who were then cared for in Bandung, moved to Jakarta, and finally sent to West Kalimantan before being planned to be sent to Singapore.
"These babies are sold for prices ranging from Rp11 million to Rp16 million per baby, and will be adopted by Singaporean citizens," said West Java Regional Police General Crimes Investigation Director Kombes Pol Surawan.
Challenges in Sending to Singapore
Although this case involves sending babies to Singapore, Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Suryopratomo doubts the truth of this information. According to him, bringing babies into Singapore with fake passports is not easy.
"The process of making a passport to bring babies into Singapore is quite complicated. Furthermore, Singapore airport authorities will certainly inquire about the existence of the baby's parents if the baby is not taken home," he said, Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Suryopratomo also stated that he had not received any reports regarding this case and considered it necessary for further investigation.
International Cooperation
The West Java Regional Police plans to cooperate with Interpol to trace the possibility of babies that have already been sent to Singapore or other countries. This case originated from parents' reports of their missing children, which then developed into further police investigation.
"We are continuously developing this case to find more potential victims who may have been sent abroad," added Kombes Pol Surawan.
Case Disclosure
This case came to light after the arrest of 12 suspects and the disclosure of the baby trafficking network. This crime is considered very serious as it involves not only human trafficking, but also fake documents and kidnapping. The West Java Regional Police is currently focusing on rescuing other victims and exposing the international syndicate involved.
The police are making continuous efforts to disclose more facts in this case and establish international cooperation to resolve this baby trafficking case. It is hoped that with further investigation, this syndicate can be dismantled down to its roots.
Hanin Marwah and Vedro Imanuel Girsang contributed to this article.
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