Police Uncover Baby Trafficking Ring: 12 Arrested, 7 Babies Rescued

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation for Women and Children (Ditipid PPA and PPO) of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) has uncovered a case of human trafficking involving the buying and selling of babies. A total of 12 suspects have been arrested in this operation.

Deputy Head of Bareskrim Polri, Irjen Nunung Syaifudin, stated that the uncovering of this syndicate is a development of a previous case of kidnapping of a toddler, Bilqis (4), in Makassar.

“The uncovering of this case is a result of the development of the previous kidnapping case in Makassar. As we may remember, it involved baby Bilqis,” said Nunung during a press conference at Bareskrim Polri, South Jakarta, Wednesday (February 25, 2026).

Nunung said that his team collaborated with Densus 88 Anti-Terror Polri to uncover the baby trafficking network that operates across regions in Indonesia.

“On December 3, 2025, investigators successfully designated 12 suspects, along with evidence, and rescued 7 babies who were victims,” explained Nunung.

“These 7 babies represent a significant number, as they are lives, and this has become a special focus for our leadership to uncover this case as thoroughly as possible,” he added.

At the same opportunity, the Head of Ditipid PPA and PPO, Brigjen Pol Nurul Azizah, explained that the suspects consist of two groups: eight intermediaries and four parents.

They carried out the practice of buying and selling babies in the areas of Jakarta, Banten, Yogyakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, Jambi, Bali, East Kalimantan, Kalimantan, Riau Islands, and Papua.

“A total of 12 people have been designated as suspects, consisting of eight people from the intermediary group and four people from the parent group,” said Nurul.

The eight suspects from the intermediary group are NH (female), LA (female), S (male), EMT (female), ZH (female), H (female), BSN (female), and F (female). The four suspects from the parent group are CPS (female), DRH (female), IP (female), and REP (male).

Suspect NH sold babies in Bali, Riau Islands, South Sulawesi, Jambi, and Jakarta. Then, LA sold babies in West Java, Central Java, Riau Islands, Jakarta, and Jambi.

Then, suspect S sold babies in the Jabodetabek area. Meanwhile, EMT sold babies in Banten, Jakarta, and West Kalimantan.

Then, ZH, H, BSN sold babies in Jakarta and F sold babies in West Kalimantan. Suspect CPS sold babies to her sister, NH, in Yogyakarta.

Then, DRH sold babies to her sister, LA, in Tangerang, Banten. Meanwhile, RET is EP’s boyfriend, who is also the biological father of one of the babies, and sold to her sister, LA, in Tangerang, Banten.

“The babies who were successfully rescued are seven, and they are currently undergoing assessment by the Ministry of Social Affairs,” explained Nurul.

The 12 suspects are charged with Article 76F in conjunction with Article 83 of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection, and this violation is threatened with a penalty of 3 years in prison up to 15 years and a fine of IDR 60 million to IDR 300 million.

Then, Article 6 of Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Human Trafficking. This article is threatened with a minimum imprisonment of 3 years and a maximum of 15 years, and a fine of at least IDR 120 million and a maximum of IDR 600 million.

As well as Article 455 in conjunction with Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning TPPO in the country. This violation can be threatened with a minimum imprisonment of 3 years and a maximum of 15 years.