• Indonesian police have arrested 13 suspects in connection with a trafficked baby syndicate.
• At least 25 babies have been trafficked to Singapore since 2023, many sold by their own parents.
• Authorities believe some babies were "booked" while still in the womb.
• Six infants have been rescued prior to being sent to Singapore.
• Police are pursuing requests for support from Interpol regarding remaining suspects and buyers.

Indonesian police have recently apprehended 13 individuals in a significant crackdown on a baby trafficking syndicate that allegedly targets infants for sale to buyers in Singapore. The syndicate has been in operation since 2023, with authorities estimating that around 25 babies have been trafficked, primarily from West Java, as reported by the BBC and The Jakarta Post.

Of the arrested suspects, about six babies were rescued just before they were set to be trafficked to Singapore, indicating the immediate dangers these infants faced. The area's police claimed that the rescued babies were under one year old and had been housed in local orphanages following their rescue, as cited by SCMP and The Jakarta Post.

This complex operation reportedly involved recruiting expectant mothers looking to give up their newborns, even booking some babies while still in utero. Investigators highlighted that potential clients were often approached through social media before being directed to private channels, such as WhatsApp, for further discussions, as detailed by BBC and SCMP.

Moreover, in many instances, parents allegedly sold their children under duress or due to financial distress. It is suspected that some parents reported their children kidnapped only when the agreed financial compensation was not received, according to statements by police officials, detailed in the BBC and The Jakarta Post.

With ongoing investigations, Indonesian authorities are working alongside Interpol and have issued plans to pursue additional suspects still at large. These include critical figures believed to be masterminds behind the syndicate, as stated by the police spokesperson, reflecting the serious and organized nature of the trafficking network, reported by SCMP and The Jakarta Post.