It was 'love at first sight' with their adopted baby. Then they were told he may have been trafficked

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. It was 'love at first sight' with their adopted baby. Then they were told he may have been traffickedImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Many of the babies have by now spent most of their lives in Singapore (Stock image of a family with toddler)ByTessa Wong, Asia Digital Reporter, Reporting fromSingapore and Astudestra Ajengrastri, World Service, Reporting fromJakartaPublished43 minutes agoWhen David and Ally first saw Marcus, they knew he was destined to be their son. "For me it was love at first sight," said David.

Their long adoption journey had come to an end. Months later, the baby from Indonesia was in their arms and the family was ready to start their life together. But now, years later, they face the possibility of losing Marcus because he is believed to have been trafficked into Singapore.

The Details

He is one of at least 20 babies alleged to have been illegally bought in Indonesia for adoption in Singapore in recent years. Nearly two dozen people have been arrested for alleged human trafficking last year and are now on trial in West Java. This means authorities may have to decide if Marcus and other children, who would by now have spent most of their lives in Singapore, should stay with their adoptive parents or return to their biological parents in Indonesia.

Both countries have yet to state what will happen to the children. For David and Ally, these last few months have been agonising. The high-profile case has highlighted the enduring problem of child trafficking in Indonesia, fuelled by parents who sell their children.

It has also raised questions over how Singapore - known for its tight controls and meticulous checks - failed to detect the alleged trafficking and even approved some of the adoptions. David and Ally agreed to share their story with the on condition we use pseudonyms, as they fear jeopardising their chance to keep Marcus. "The anxiety is always there, at the back of our minds," said David.

What Experts Say

"There's always the thought that Marcus might be taken away. "'He smiled at us'David and Ally had always wanted children but after Ally went through several painful miscarriages, they decided to adopt. But they faced a long wait for a Singaporean child - with one adoption agency giving them a queue number of 142.

So they did what many Singaporeans in this situation do, and looked overseas. An estimated two-thirds of the children adopted in Singapore every year were born elsewhere, usually in neighbouring countries. David and Ally chose a local agency that specialised in arranging adoptions of Indonesian babies.

Weeks later, they were peering at a tiny infant held up to the camera, in a video call arranged by the agency. "What was so special about him that caught our attention? He smiled at us," recalled David.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.