Married couples who are unable to conceive children, or those desperate for parenthood, but hampered by numerous red tape procedures of the legal manner, often decide to go through syndicates and obtain the children illegally. This was the case that The Star Online reported, when it highlighted the police busting a baby-selling syndicate and rescuing some babies in the process, believed to be kidnapped or worse, stolen.

The arrests also included two couples who wanted to buy the babies, aged two weeks to nine months, from the syndicate, which was led by a doctor who owns a private medical centre in Klang. Police were still looking for the doctor, who went into hiding soon after the arrests were made early this month, reportedly.

Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said the babies were sold for RM15,000 each or more, depending on the looks and health condition of the infant. He said a three-year-old boy who could not be “sold” was also rescued from the syndicate that paid Filipino, Vietnamese and Indonesian women have children. “The syndicate operated in Banting, Klang and Kajang and recruited the foreign women who entered the country illegally. They were taken care by the 50-year-old woman,” he added.

Since 1990, police have smashed several such syndicates. However, the racket has continued to thrive because of demand from childless couples wanting babies through any means possible.