Baby Trafficking Syndicate Disguised as Adoption Operating Via TikTok and Facebook
Indonesia’s Directorate of Crime Against Children and Women (Dirtipid PPA dan PPO) at the National Police Headquarters has exposed a human trafficking syndicate operating a baby-selling scheme. The perpetrators conducted their illegal activities through social media platforms including TikTok and Facebook, disguising the transactions as child adoption processes.
Brigadier General Nurul Azizah, head of the Directorate, revealed during a press conference at National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, that the suspects exploited social media platforms to facilitate the illegal baby sales operation, which commenced in 2024. “The modus operandi involves using social media, specifically TikTok, Facebook, and similar platforms,” Nurul stated.
Twelve suspects were apprehended in this operation, divided into two operational clusters: eight intermediary brokers and four biological parents. The intermediary brokers are identified as NH, LA, S, EMT, ZH, H, BSN, and F, while the biological parents are CPS, DRH, IP, and REP.
The intermediary suspects distributed infants across multiple regions. NH sold babies in Bali, the Riau Islands, South Sulawesi, Jambi, and Jakarta. LA distributed infants in West Java, Central Java, the Riau Islands, Jakarta, and Jambi. S operated in the Greater Jakarta area, EMT in Banten, Jakarta, and West Kalimantan, whilst ZH, H, and BSN concentrated operations in Jakarta, with F operating in West Kalimantan. Meanwhile, the biological parent suspects sold infants through various intermediaries across different regions including Yogyakarta, Tangerang, and Banten.
Seven infants have been rescued and are currently undergoing assessment by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The investigation revealed that biological parents offered their children due to economic hardship or pregnancies outside marriage, whilst the intermediary brokers claimed to be childless couples seeking to adopt. “The intermediaries then offered the babies to prospective adoptive parents by providing forged birth certificates and documentation,” Nurul explained.
Pricing structures were established based on the number of intermediaries involved. Biological parents received between 8–15 million rupiah per infant, whilst intermediaries charged 15–80 million rupiah, with prices escalating with the addition of more brokers in the transaction chain.
The 12 suspects have been charged under Article 76F in conjunction with Article 83 of Law No. 35 of 2014 on Child Protection, carrying penalties of 3–15 years imprisonment and fines of 60–300 million rupiah. Additional charges include Article 6 of Law No. 21 of 2007 on Human Trafficking Eradication (3–15 years imprisonment and 120–600 million rupiah fines) and Article 455 in conjunction with Article 20 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on Human Trafficking, with penalties of 3–15 years imprisonment.
Nurul cautioned the public against falling victim to informal adoption offers that circumvent official procedures, urging increased vigilance against various baby trafficking schemes disguised as legitimate adoption processes.