Police arrest 13 over baby trafficking ring

The Police in Indonesia’s West Java province have uncovered a baby trafficking ring accused of selling 24 infants from various regions in Indonesia to buyers in neighboring Singapore.

As of today, 13 Indonesian nationals suspected of involvement in the ring have been arrested in separate operations conducted in Pontianak, West Kalimantan province, and Tangerang, Banten province, the police said on Wednesday.

According to the Police, 12 of the suspects were apprehended on Monday while the 13 have been arrested on Tuesday evening at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten.

West Java Police spokesperson Hendra Rochmawan, said that the investigation is ongoing, with authorities pursuing additional suspects, including potential actors based in Singapore.

Rochmawan also said that the police would coordinate with Interpol to locate the 24 trafficked infants believed to be in Singapore.

During the operations, police successfully rescued six infants, five of whom were about to be trafficked to Singapore and one to Tangerang.

Authorities revealed that the case came to light after a parent reported a suspected kidnapping, which led police to a suspect who confessed to trafficking 24 babies.

Most of the infants were reportedly taken from their biological parents in West Java.

They were to be sold for adoption in Singapore. (Xinhua/NAN)