SINGAPORE: (Bernama) The Singapore Police Force (SPF) will render the necessary assistance to their Indonesian counterparts, within the ambit of the law, following the arrests of suspects in an alleged baby trafficking syndicate linked to Singapore.

SPF said they have contacted the Indonesian authorities to seek relevant information regarding the allegations.

"The Police have not received any local police reports nor any information on babies being trafficked into Singapore from Indonesia.

"Nonetheless, we are aware of media reports alleging that there is a baby trafficking syndicate linked to Singapore,” an SPF spokesperson said in response to Bernama’s queries.

Indonesian police on Tuesday (July 15) said they had arrested 12 suspects in connection with a baby trafficking syndicate and rescued six infants.

According to West Java’s General Criminal Investigations Director, Commissioner Surawan, one of the suspects disclosed that five of the rescued infants had been scheduled to be sent to Singapore using fake paperwork.

The group is alleged to have sold at least 25 infants since 2023, with 15 reportedly sent to Singapore, BBC News Indonesia reported.

Another suspect was arrested on the night of July 15, and police are still searching for three more suspects believed to be outside the country, Metro TV reported.

The investigation, which began after a parent reported a suspected baby abduction, led police to uncover a wider trafficking network involving infants believed to have originated from various parts of West Java. - Bernama