Indonesia’s National Police (Polri) has issued a stern clarification regarding the recently uncovered baby trafficking syndicate operating under the guise of illegal adoption. Authorities firmly assert that this disturbing phenomenon is not a case of kidnapping, but rather a pure illegal transaction involving the very biological parents of the infants.
During a press conference at the National Police Headquarters on Tuesday (February 24), Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri), Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin, emphasized this distinction. According to Inspector General Syaifuddin, the mastermind behind this illegal network is a notorious repeat offender, previously apprehended in the notorious “Bilqis case.” He further detailed the syndicate’s chilling modus operandi: the meticulous falsification of crucial documents, specifically hospital-issued birth certificates, to facilitate these illicit transactions. “Once again, it’s purely a buying and selling operation; there’s no element of kidnapping involved,” Nunung reiterated.
On the same occasion, Brigadier General Nurul Azizah, Director of the Women and Child Protection (PPA) unit within Bareskrim Polri, shed light on the origins of the trafficked infants. She revealed that the majority of these babies come from parents who are either unprepared to raise a child or are born out of wedlock. “While this case primarily involves direct buying and selling, it’s crucial to note that some of these babies are the product of illicit relationships,” Nurul explained, underscoring the vulnerability exploited by the syndicate.
To effectively sever the intricate chain of child trafficking, the National Police has adopted a robust, multi-functional collaborative strategy. This comprehensive approach spans from vigilant monitoring of social media activities to grassroots-level supervision in villages. Brigadier General Azizah elaborated, “We collaborate not only externally but also internally. Given that the modus operandi often originates from social media, we are actively engaging with our cyber unit colleagues to conduct dedicated cyber operations. Furthermore, proactive prevention efforts are continuously implemented through extensive socialization and education campaigns.”
Externally, the police are significantly bolstering oversight to counteract potential document forgery, a critical element in the syndicate’s operations. Simultaneously, they are intensifying educational outreach programs aimed at parents, equipping them with awareness and information. “Within the Polri, our Bhabinkamtibmas personnel (community policing officers) play a vital role. We work closely with them to conduct thorough reviews and oversight right down to the village level,” Nurul added, emphasizing the localized effort to protect children.
This proactive approach recently culminated in a significant breakthrough when Bareskrim Polri successfully dismantled a sophisticated baby trafficking syndicate that cunningly operated on social media platforms, masquerading its illicit activities as legitimate adoptions. In this particular operation, authorities apprehended 12 suspects, whose roles varied widely – from intermediaries and brokers facilitating the transactions to biological parents who cruelly sold their own flesh and blood. Police commendably rescued seven infants from the clutches of this network, whose operational reach was detected stretching across Indonesia, all the way to the distant Papua region.
For their deplorable actions, the suspects face multiple severe charges under various legislative frameworks. These include Article 76F in conjunction with Article 83 of Law Number 35 Year 2014 concerning Child Protection, as well as Article 6 of Law Number 21 Year 2007 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Human Trafficking (TPPO). These stringent legal measures underscore the gravity of the crimes committed and the nation’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting those who exploit the most vulnerable.
Summary
The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) clarified that recently uncovered baby trafficking cases are purely illegal buying and selling, not kidnappings, often involving the infants’ biological parents. The syndicate’s mastermind is a repeat offender who falsified hospital birth certificates to facilitate these transactions, primarily targeting babies from unprepared or unwed parents.
Police are combating this with a robust multi-functional strategy, including cyber operations, social media monitoring, and village-level oversight, alongside educational campaigns. This proactive approach led to the dismantling of a syndicate operating on social media, resulting in 12 arrests and the rescue of seven infants, with suspects facing severe charges under child protection and human trafficking laws.