JOHOR BARU: Police took custody of a fifth baby believed to have been sold by a baby-for-sale syndicate here when they raided a house in Pontian on Monday.

Police said the 3-month-old girl was taken away from a couple and placed in the care of the state Welfare Department.

The couple were released after they co-operated with police and gave their statements.

The baby's DNA was taken at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital to enable police to establish her parentage and track down her natural mother.

The recovery of the infant is the latest development in a police investigation, codenamed Ops Kasih, which has so far resulted in the arrest of 31 people, including a doctor, his wife, staff and a National Registration Department official.