National Police's Criminal Investigation Unit Uncovers Human Trafficking Network Involved in the Sale of Babies for Prices Ranging from IDR 8 Million to IDR 80 Million

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) has uncovered a human trafficking network involved in the illegal sale of babies. Twelve individuals have been named as suspects in the investigation.

Deputy Head of Bareskrim Polri, Inspector General (Irjen) Nunung Syaifuddin, stated that seven infant victims have been rescued. Nunung explained that the investigation into the baby trafficking network stemmed from the development of a baby kidnapping case that occurred in Makassar, South Sulawesi, last year.

Bareskrim Polri involved several directorates in the investigation of this case, including the Directorate of Special Crimes for the Protection of Women and Children (PPA), the Directorate of General Criminal Crimes, and other sectors.

“In uncovering this human trafficking network, which involves the illegal sale of babies by providing false information and falsified birth certificates or identity documents, investigators have named 12 individuals as suspects and successfully rescued seven infant victims,” said Nunung at the National Police Headquarters, Jakarta, Wednesday (February 25, 2026).

According to Nunung, the rescue of seven infants is a significant achievement, as every citizen’s life must be guaranteed.

Director of Special Crimes for the Protection of Women and Children and Trafficking in Persons at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General (Brigjen) Nurul Azizah, explained that the 12 suspects are from investigations conducted in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Bali, and Papua. The police estimate that the financial transactions in this baby trafficking network reached hundreds of millions of Rupiah. Nurul stated that the modus operandi involved offering illegal adoptions through social media platforms.

“The modus operandi used was offering illegal adoptions through digital platforms such as TikTok and Facebook, and then selling babies by providing false information and falsified birth certificates/identity documents,” said Nurul.