Surabaya Police Swipe the Baby‑Selling Scammer
In Indonesia’s bustling city of Surabaya, the local police have busted a slick ring that was selling babies under the guise of a “family‑welfare” Instagram page. The rogue operator, known only as AP, posed as a 29‑year‑old matchmaker for parents in distress.
Who’s Involved?
- AP – the 29‑year‑old “benefactor” (banned from his true identity)
- LA – a 22‑year‑old mother who tried to sell her newborn son
- A broker who played middle‑man
- Another buyer, top‑secret identity
All four are facing up to 15 years behind bars. The Instagram page still draws a crowd of 722 followers.
How the Scam Unfolds
- Potential clients send a DM to AP’s page. He replies via WhatsApp from an Indonesian number.
- He posts screenshots of those chats, turning the feed into a “sell‑your‑baby” showcase.
- One post (in Bahasa) reads: “I’m 7 months pregnant, unmarried, and hoping to find someone who will adopt my child and give me temporary housing until delivery. I don’t want my family to know.”
- Photos of mothers (faces blurred) who sold their babies are also displayed.
Operation Details
Police intercepted a planned transaction scheduled for September 3rd. LA was about to hand over her infant for 15 million rupiah (≈S$1,400) to the buyer. The broker got 5 million rupiah, and AP pocketed an extra 2.5 million rupiah.
LA, a mother of three with mounting debts and an unstable husband, had reached out to AP in desperation. Through him, she was connected to a Bali buyer eager for her third child.
Why It Matters
“Selling babies is a crime that cannot be tolerated. The syndicates have turned to social media because it’s cheap and reaches a wide audience,” says Arist Sudamiran, Surabaya’s chief detective.
AP insists he only facilitated four transactions (most around 15‑20 million rupiah) and even claims he used his academic and volunteer counseling background to convince poori‑moms.
Broader Context
- From January 2018, the NGO Komnas PA logged 11 trafficking reports from the public (vs. 8 in 2017).
- Cases range from child sex trafficking to illegal adoption involving kids under five.
- “Some buyers overseas want kids for sex or organ harvesting,” warns Arist Merdeka Sirait.
- The police keep national figures under wraps, leaving the real extent of the problem hidden.
In short, Surabaya’s police have cut a fast cable through a family‑welfare façade, and the headlines now read: “No baby sales, please – Surabaya cops are on the case.” (Stay safe out there, folks!)
