In a scenario where newborns were purchased from parents via Twitter before being resold for a higher price, Indonesian authorities in Depok, West Java, have made eight arrests.
According to Depok police chief Arya Perdana, who shared details on the case on Tuesday ( Sep 3 ), the syndicate’s dealings were revealed after police officers responded to a public tip-off.
Through Facebook, the consortium sought out families who wanted to sell their children and secured the babies. When businesses began, it was not stated.
” Our investigation found a scheme where babies were advertised on Facebook, with prices ranging from 10 million to 15 million rupiah ( US$ 645 to US$ 968 ) each”, he said, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
The babies were then transported to Bali, where they could be resold for up to 45 million ringgit.
Officials discovered two kids, a man and a woman, for purchase and transportation to Bali as part of the assault, Mr. Arya said in the Tuesday press conference on Tuesday. He did not specify when this occurred.
He described the gang as well-organized, revealing that the company had already completed five deals in Bali and even had a pre-order system in place.
They made plans with expecting kids before the babies were born, he said, ensuring instant transportation to Bali straight after birth.  ,
Mr. Arya pointed out that the gang targeted foreigners as prospective customers.
” But if a stranger needed a child, they may offer to them”, he told local information outlet Kompas.
Eight individuals aged between 22 and 41 have been arrested. They are accused of human trafficking and violating child safety rules.
Among those nabbed were four families selling their babies, two people acting as spies and buyers, one as an entity, and one agent managing the dealings.
On Tuesday, Depok officers gave detailed information about the suspects ‘ actions, only revealing their names and years:
- RS ( 24 ) and AN ( 22 ) acted as scouts and transporters. They located and bought children through Twitter, and delivered the children to MI in Tabanan, Bali. MI is not among the eight arrested.
- IM ( 41 ) financed the operation through RS and AN, sought buyers for the babies, and resold the newborns for up to 45 million rupiah.
- After the child was born outside of wedlock, DA ( 27 ) sold the child to RS for 10 million rupiah.
- MD ( 32 ), DA’s partner, assisted in selling the baby to RS.
- SU ( 24 ) sold her newborn to AN for 10 million rupiah because her husband had refused to raise the child.
- DA ( 23 ), SU’s friend, helped during the birth and facilitated the transfer of the baby to AN, receiving a commission for her role in the transaction.
- RK ( 30 ), SU’s husband, was involved in the baby transaction due to his refusal to care for the child.
As the constitutional trials go on, they continue to be held.  ,
Human trafficking is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of 600 million ringgit under Indonesian rules. The child safety rules places a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of 300 million rupees.
On the assumption that the syndicate’s actions does go beyond Bali, police are expanding their studies.
” What we have discovered so far is limited to Bali, but organized international crime can take place anywhere, and the culprits could be from somewhere,” remarked Mr. Arya.