Those arrested included a woman and a relative of the boy, Mohd Aidil Abu.

The baby was kidnapped from his parents' home in Galing Besar, where three of the suspects had been staying earlier.

The mother, Zaiton Awang Besar, 37, said she was throwing out rubbish at the back of her home about 7pm when the trio ran off with Aidil.

"I was shocked when I realised that all of them were not in the house. I told my husband and we tried to locate them," she said at the district police headquarters yesterday.

Zaiton and husband Abu Abdullah lodged a police report at 11.30pm.

Police managed to locate the trio at a hypermarket here about two hours later. Based on their tip-off, four other suspects were arrested in Kampung Razali at 3am. The baby was with them.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Jasmani Yusoff said initial investigations showed that the trio had sold the baby for just RM500 ($210) to the four, whom may be part of a larger syndicate.

Jasmani said investigations showed the suspects, aged from 18 to 30, were also involved in several snatch thefts and house break-ins.

They are being remanded until Saturday.

Abu, 33, said he had advised his wife not to allow strangers to stay at their home.

"My wife is too naive and will not hesitate to allow people to stay in our home," said Abu, a contractor in Dungun.