Why ‘rampant baby trafficking’ is a growing concern in Indonesia, Singapore
Analysts warn the driving factor for the rise in baby trafficking is the ‘lure of the Singapore dollar’, urging authorities to step up vigilance
The issue has drawn particular attention in Singapore following allegations that infants were trafficked from Indonesia into the city state for adoption, prompting authorities on both sides of the border to review existing safeguards and cooperation mechanisms.
The suspects were detained in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, after authorities uncovered what they described as a well-organised syndicate that marketed babies through social media platforms.
“The syndicate operated with a well-organised structure,” Medan police chief Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak said.
Police alleged that two babies had been sold domestically for between US$530 and US$1,500, and said the case reflected methods increasingly seen in other trafficking investigations across Indonesia.