TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian authorities rescued seven infants from a baby trafficking network, revealed Brig. Gen. Pol. Nurul Azizah, the director general of Women, Children, and Human Trafficking (PPA-PPO) Directorate at the Indonesian National Police.
"Seven babies have been rescued and are currently undergoing assessment by the Ministry of Social Affairs," said Nurul during a press conference at the police headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Authorities have identified 12 suspects in the trafficking case, with eight brokers and four from the parental group.
The baby trafficking operations spread across several major cities, including Jakarta, Banten, Yogyakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, Jambi, Bali, Kalimantan, Riau Islands, and Papua.
One of the brokers with initials NH is believed to have sold babies to prospective adoptive parents in Bali, Riau Islands, South Sulawesi, Jambi, and Jakarta. Another suspect, LA, sold babies in West Java, Central Java, Riau Islands, Jakarta, and Jambi.
Meanwhile, suspect S was involved in baby trafficking in Greater Jakarta. On the other hand, EMT sold infants in Banten, Jakarta, and West Kalimantan. "Suspects ZH, H, and BSN are suspected of trafficking babies in Jakarta, while F in West Kalimantan," she stated.
On the parents' side, suspect CPS allegedly sold a baby to suspect NH in Yogyakarta, while suspect DRH sold a baby to NH in Bekasi, West Java.
Further, IP sold a baby to suspect LA in Tangerang, Banten. Additionally, REP, who is the boyfriend of IP and also the biological father of one of the infants, also sold a baby to LA in Tangerang.
During the same event, the Director of Child Social Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Social Affairs, MK Agung Suhartoyo, said assessments are being conducted to determine the future of the seven rescued children. "Whether the child is eligible for adoption, and whether it violates the rules. We will report the results of the assessment to the police," said Agung.
He also assured that the children are in a safe situation and their needs and rights are being fulfilled under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs. "For the time being, they are under our care, until it is decided whether they will return to their families or be placed under the care of a specific institution if their parents or guardians are not found," he said.
Nurul mentioned that the baby trafficking case was discovered after a missing baby, Bilqis, was found safe in Jambi on November 8, 2025. The baby was missing a few days prior in Makassar.
Behind her rescue, the practice of inter-provincial child trafficking involving the Suku Anak Dalam (SAD) community was revealed.
In relation to this case, the police have identified SY, NH, M, and AS as suspects of human trafficking. They are facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Read: Three Singaporeans Suspected in Indonesian Baby Trafficking Case
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