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| Shocking! 15 Indonesian Babies Trafficked to Singapore—West Java Police Uncover Major Human Trafficking Ring. |
West Java Police have revealed a disturbing case of human trafficking involving Indonesian babies being sold across borders. As of now, the police have confirmed that 15 babies were sent to Singapore as part of a transnational human trafficking operation.
"Fifteen babies were sent to Singapore. Recently, six more were rescued in Pontianak, bringing the total to 21 victims," said West Java Police's Director of General Criminal Investigation, Police Commissioner Surawan, during a press conference on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
The Cruel Method: Targeting Mothers Before the Babies Are Born
The operation was cold and calculated. One of the key suspects, identified as AF, searched for pregnant women who advertised their unborn babies for adoption through Facebook. These women were usually in desperate financial situations.
"AF would contact the mothers and claim she wanted to adopt the baby with her husband. She made everything sound genuine and filled with good intentions," explained West Java Police spokesperson Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan.
Once trust was built, a deal would be made. In one case, AF and a mother agreed on a price of 10 million rupiah for the baby. When the baby was born, AF handed over 600,000 rupiah to help with the birth expenses and promised to pay the rest the following day, along with providing her ID and family documents for the adoption process.
But the promise was fake. “The next day, the suspect never showed up again after taking the baby,” said Hendra.
A Well-Organized Trafficking Network
This wasn’t the work of one or two individuals. Police have arrested 13 suspects, each playing specific roles in the trafficking network:
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M, Y, W, and J acted as baby handlers or temporary caretakers.
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YN was assigned to care for the babies, supervised by suspect S.
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L was in charge of delivering the babies to buyers.
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A negotiated the selling price with the mothers.
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DHH and EM served as middlemen in transferring the babies to adopters.
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C was one of the illegal adopters.
Meanwhile, three more suspects—P, NY, and YT—are still on the run and have been added to the police’s wanted list.
Why This Case Matters
This is not just a legal issue—it’s a humanitarian crisis. Innocent newborns, who should be surrounded by love and protection, were instead treated like commodities.
This case shows how social media can be exploited by criminals, especially to target vulnerable women. As a society, we must be more vigilant and proactive in protecting those who can’t protect themselves.
How you can help:
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Avoid sharing or responding to online posts offering babies for adoption.
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Report suspicious online activity related to child adoption or trafficking.
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Educate those around you—especially pregnant women—about the dangers of trafficking and illegal adoption schemes.
This heartbreaking case reminds us that human trafficking is still a real and urgent issue, even involving babies. The action taken by West Java Police is a crucial step toward justice, but the fight isn't over. We all have a role to play in stopping these horrific crimes and ensuring that every child grows up safe and loved.