Illegal Adoption Modus Operandi is Increasing, Metro Police Ask Parents to be Alert

JAKARTA - Polda Metro Jaya reminded the public to be aware of the practice of child trafficking which is now increasingly rampant by utilizing social media, one of which is through the illegal adoption method.

The police assessed that the delay of the family and the surrounding environment was often used by the perpetrators to carry out their actions.

Director of Women and Children Protection and Human Trafficking (Dirres PPA and PPO) of the Metro Jaya Police, Kombes Rita Wulandari Wibowo, emphasized that the prevention of child trafficking must start from the family as the front line of child protection.

"Parents must keep children's identity documents well, supervise their social life, and equip children with an understanding of strangers and dangerous situations," said Rita, Saturday, February 7, 2026.

He emphasized that handing over children to other parties without legal procedures could potentially open the door to human trafficking.

Open communication between parents and children is considered important to detect behavioral changes or potential threats early.

Apart from the family, Rita also asked the public to be more sensitive to the condition of the surrounding environment. The reason is, the existence of an unlicensed child shelter, adoption activities outside the official channel, to families who suddenly disappeared without clarity needs to be immediately reported to the authorities.

"However small the information received by the public is very meaningful. Report through the 110 service or other reporting channels so that we can immediately follow up," he said.

As a form of strengthening child protection, the Metro Jaya Police continue to strengthen the integrated reporting system to handle cases of missing children and suspected human trafficking.

"The public can use various channels, ranging from emergency services 110, SAPA 129, to the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) for victim services and complaint channels at schools," he added.

This warning was delivered following the disclosure of a child trafficking case in the Tamansari area, West Jakarta. The case was revealed after the family reported the disappearance of a toddler who was taken by his own biological mother at the end of October 2025.

The results of the investigation showed that child trafficking was carried out through illegal adoption and chain transactions between actors across regions. From the disclosure, the police rescued four toddlers and arrested 10 suspects who were allegedly part of a human trafficking network.

Rita emphasized that law enforcement efforts would continue to be accompanied by preventive measures. He hopes that collaboration between families, schools, and communities can be the main fortress to protect children from human trafficking crimes in the digital era.

"The state must be present not only to save the victims, but also to ensure that the future of children is still protected. The investigation will continue to be developed to uncover the entire chain of the network," he said.