The babies caught between Singapore and Indonesia - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

Multiple families in Singapore are facing an unimaginable possibility that the children they legally adopted from Indonesia may have been victims of an alleged baby trafficking network. Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 https://bbc.in/3VyyriM A major trial is underway in Indonesia involving 19 defendants accused of buying babies, forging documents, and arranging illegal adoptions. They’re alleged to have facilitated the transfer of at least 12 children to Singapore. The defendants deny the allegations. The case has raised difficult questions about international adoption, how trafficking networks operate, why vulnerable parents give up their babies, and how Singapore's strict adoption system failed to detect the alleged scheme. On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to BBC journalists Tessa Wong in Singapore and Astudestra Ajengrastri in Jakarta about the ongoing trial, the families caught up in the case, and what could happen to the children. 00:00 Introduction 01:37 Indonesia's major baby trafficking trial 03:12 How did Singapore's strict adoption system miss this? 03:57 How were the babies' identities hidden? 05:24 Who is accused in the trafficking network? 06:12 How was the alleged trafficking ring exposed? 08:07 The Singapore couple who fear their son was trafficked 10:39 How much money was involved? 11:56 How has the adoption agency in Singapore responded? 13:22 Why does baby trafficking happen in Indonesia? 15:40 Will Singapore change its adoption system? 16:58 What does this case mean for Indonesia? 18:33 The lasting impact on the children 19:52 What's next in the case? This episode was recorded on 8 July 2026. Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽    • Asia Specific   ---------------- This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel. If you like what we do, you can also find us here: Instagram 👉🏽   / bbcworldservice   Twitter 👉🏽   / bbcworldservice   Facebook 👉🏽   / bbcworldservice   BBC World Service website 👉🏽 https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio Thanks for watching and subscribing! #BBCWorldService #WorldService #indonesia #adoption #singapore #trafficking