National Police's Criminal Investigation Unit Uncovers Baby Trafficking Ring with Transactions Reaching IDR 80 Million
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) has uncovered a human trafficking ring involved in the illegal sale of babies. A total of 12 people have been named as suspects in the investigation.
Deputy Head of Bareskrim Polri, Inspector General (Irjen) Nunung Syaifuddin, stated that seven baby victims have been successfully rescued.
Nunung said that the investigation into the baby trafficking ring was revealed through the development of a baby kidnapping case that occurred in Makassar, South Sulawesi, last year.
Bareskrim Polri involved many directorates in the investigation of this case. Starting from the Directorate of Special Crimes for the Protection of Women and Children (PPA), the Directorate of General Criminal Crimes, and other sectors.
“In the disclosure of this human trafficking ring, with the modus operandi of selling babies by providing false birth certificates or identities, investigators have named 12 people as suspects and successfully rescued seven baby victims,” said Nunung at the National Police Headquarters, Jakarta, Wednesday (25/2/2026).
According to Nunung, the seven babies who were successfully rescued represent a significant number, as every citizen’s life must be guaranteed.
The Director of Special Crimes for the Protection of Women and Children and Victims of Trafficking at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General (Brigjen) Nurul Azizah, explained that all 12 suspects were identified through investigations conducted in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Bali, and Papua.
From this baby trafficking ring, the police calculated that the total amount of money involved in the transactions reached hundreds of millions of Rupiah (IDR). The modus operandi, according to Nunung, involved offering illegal adoptions through social media platforms.
“The modus operandi used is to offer illegal adoptions through digital platforms such as TikTok and Facebook, and then sell babies by providing false birth certificates or identities,” said Nurul.
From these baby sales transactions, Nurul said that the price range reached IDR 8 to 15 million, and up to IDR 80 million if it involved intermediaries. “The more intermediaries involved, the higher the price,” said Nurul.
Meanwhile, the Director of Child Social Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos), Agung Suhartoyo, affirmed that his office will conduct assessments and rehabilitation for the baby victims to ensure safe and legal care.
“We provide assessments to determine the child’s status and ensure that they receive the best protection and care, whether it is returning them to their family or through alternative care in accordance with regulations,” he said.
A representative from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Atwirlany Ritonga, stated that cases of child kidnapping suspected of being related to human trafficking remain a national concern. The Ministry recorded 91 cases and 180 child victims from 2022 to October 2025.
“We appreciate the work of Bareskrim Polri. Cases of child kidnapping suspected of being related to human trafficking are serious crimes, so law enforcement and victim protection must go hand in hand,” she said.