TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced they are ready to assist the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in an alleged baby trafficking syndicate discovered by West Java police in Bandung.
In a statement to Bernama, the SPF mentioned that they have contacted the Indonesian authorities to seek relevant information on the alleged baby trafficking.
"The Police have not received any local police reports nor any information on babies being trafficked into Singapore from Indonesia," an SPF spokesperson told Bernama, on July 18, 2025.
"Nonetheless, we are aware of media reports alleging that there is a baby trafficking syndicate linked to Singapore,” the SPF spokesperson said.
On Tuesday, July 15, the West Java Regional Police announced the arrest of 12 suspects related to a baby trafficking syndicate, with six babies being rescued.
According to the Director of General Crime Investigation of the West Java Regional Police, Commissioner Surawan, one of the suspects revealed that five of the rescued babies were planned to be sent to Singapore using fake paperwork.
This group is believed to have sold at least 25 infants since 2023, with 15 of them reportedly sent to Singapore, as reported by Antara.
The investigation, initiated after a parent filed a report regarding the abduction of a baby, led to the exposure of the baby smuggling and trafficking network to foreign countries.
The West Java Regional Police arrested one of the fugitives, LS, 69 years old, who was apprehended upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang.
The Head of Public Relations of the West Java Regional Police, Police Grand Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan in Bandung on Monday, July 21, 2025, said the arrest was carried out after the police put out a travel ban against LS.
"LS was finally detained by immigration officers," Hendra said, adding that the suspect played a key role in the transnational baby trafficking syndicate.
He is suspected to have directly connected illegal adoption agents in Indonesia with parties in Singapore. "This person has played a major role in the trafficking and abduction of babies," he said.
The baby trafficking syndicate is also accused of forging documents to smuggle the babies, including birth certificates, family cards (KK), identities of the traffickers, and passports.
Investigation of Paperwork Forgery
Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission II, Muhammad Khozin, requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to follow up on the discovery of alleged involvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Office (Dukcapil) employees in the baby trafficking syndicate that occurred in Bandung.
Such actions violate Article 77 of Population Administration Law on data manipulation, which would prompt an internal audit of the institution.
"This isn't a recent occurrence. This must serves as a serious warning for the Ministry of Home Affairs," he said.
The House member calls for the ministry to conduct mapping related to the forgery issues. "If the citizen's data has indeed been digitalized, why is there still room for document forgery?" he said.
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