Arrested three subjects smuggling people abroad under the guise of monks

On July 2, information from the Investigation Police Agency, Ha Tinh Police said that this unit has issued a decision to prosecute the case, prosecute the accused, and detain 3 subjects: Dau Thi Khuyen (52 years old, residing in Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh), Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hang (46 years old, residing in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City) and Nguyen Van Khanh (28 years old, residing in Dong Nai province) to investigate acts related to "organizing others to flee abroad" and "forging seals and documents of agencies and organizations".

The decision has been approved by the People's Procuracy at the same level.

According to records, since the end of 2023, Ha Tinh Provincial Police have received information that some individuals have taken advantage of the fact that Buddhist establishments in Australia regularly organize study courses for Buddhists around the world, so they have connected and organized for many people in provinces and cities in the country to illegally go to Australia to work by falsifying monk profiles. The cost of each successful trip is 300 million VND/person.

Police determined that in early 2024, Dau Thi Khuyen and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hang contacted each other, discussed, and agreed to organize for Ho Van Thin (36 years old, residing in Nghe An province) to go to Australia to work under the guise of a monk studying. According to the agreement, when Thin successfully entered the country, Hang would arrange for an acquaintance to pick him up and arrange for him to work in agriculture in Australia.

In February 2024, Hang and Khuyen directly arranged for Thin to shave his head, wear monk's clothes and go to Kim Quang Pagoda in Lien Chieu District (Da Nang) to take photos to pretend to participate in the pagoda's activities to include in his application for a visa to Australia.

Next, Hang contacted religious institutions in Australia to request an invitation to participate in Buddhist activities for Thin under the name of a monk practicing at Kim Quang Pagoda (Da Nang) with the dharma name Thich Giac Ngo.

Hang contacted Nguyen Van Khanh (28 years old, residing in Dong Nai province) to change the portrait on Thin's citizen identification card to that of a Buddhist.

On the evening of May 4, after receiving the payment, Hang gave Thin a tourist visa to Australia and arranged a car to take Thin to Tan Son Nhat International Airport to complete exit procedures.

Here, Thin was stopped by the authorities to clarify related matters. Ha Tinh Provincial Police continue to expand the investigation of the case according to the provisions of law.