Breaking up a ring of human trafficking under 16 years old and inter-provincial prostitution brokerage

Subjects in human trafficking and prostitution brokerage ring

On the morning of July 2, Lao Cai Provincial Police informed that they had just coordinated with the Criminal Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) and Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Police to successfully carry out Project 523H, clarifying the activities of a group of subjects who trafficked people under 16 years old and brokered inter-provincial prostitution.

Through the professional coordination of the Criminal Police Department, Lao Cai Provincial Police, Hanoi City Police, Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Police, the reconnaissance force discovered many activities of human trafficking under the age of 16 and prostitution brokerage under the guise of massage, karaoke... operated by many subjects in many localities, including Lao Cai. The methods and tricks of the subjects are very sophisticated; taking full advantage of the internet, social networks (Facebook, Zalo, Telegram)... to recruit and organize prostitution. Given the complexity of the case, the Ministry of Public Security has established Project 523H, assigned Lao Cai Provincial Police to preside over and coordinate with the police of related localities to deploy professional measures to investigate and solve the case.

The Criminal Police Department and the Criminal Police Department of Lao Cai and Thua Thien - Hue provinces have conducted reconnaissance and verified a number of prostitution dens disguised as massage parlors, karaoke parlors... in Hanoi, Lao Cai city, Hue city...; found a network of inter-provincial prostitution activities organized at a very sophisticated and closed motel - karaoke complex.

On June 24, the joint forces suddenly raided and discovered 3 locations where prostitution was taking place. At Kim Thanh motel (house number 178, Tran Thai Tong street, Duyen Hai ward, Lao Cai city), a number of couples were found engaging in prostitution. At house number 391, Dam Quang Trung street, Duyen Hai ward and house number 553, Dien Bien street, Coc Leu ward, 10 subjects were discovered, including 6 girls and 4 subjects involved in prostitution brokerage. They are Le Van Thanh (born in 1992, residing in Yen Ky commune, Ha Hoa district, Phu Tho province); Ha Van Hieu (born in 1999, residing in Tan Son commune, Tan Son district, Phu Tho province); HTTr (born in 1993, residing in Quang Kim commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province); Nguyen Van Hieu (born in 1994, residing in Khanh Yen commune, Van Ban district, Lao Cai province).

The reconnaissance force rescued three victims: LNTT (born in 2008, residing in Lam Dong province); NTYN (born in 2007) and TBPN (born in 2009), all residing in Hue city, Thua Thien Hue province.

At the search site, the police seized nearly 62 million VND, 2 cars, 3 motorbikes, 9 notebooks and many other objects related to prostitution.

Through the investigation of related subjects, the authorities summoned two subjects: Ha Thanh Tu (born in 1991, residing in Tan Son commune, Tan Son district, Phu Tho province) and Ha Thi Thu Hang (born in 1992, residing in Huong Chu ward, Huong Tra commune, Thua Thien-Hue province).

During the investigation and verification process, Lao Cai Provincial Police Department issued an Emergency Detention Order for 5 subjects including: Ha Thanh Tu, Ha Thi Thu Hang for the act of buying and selling people under 16 years old; Le Van Thanh, Ha Van Hieu, Nguyen Van Hieu for the act of prostitution brokerage.

On June 27, the Lao Cai Provincial Police Investigation Agency continued to issue an Emergency Detention Order for Nguyen Manh Ho, (born in 1989, residing in Van Linh, Thanh Ba District, Phu Tho Province), temporarily residing at 391 Dam Quang Trung Street, Duyen Hai Ward, Lao Cai City, for the act of trafficking in persons under 16 years old and prostitution brokerage. This is the ringleader and mastermind of the above-mentioned prostitution ring.

At the police investigation agency, Ho confessed that around March 2022, he rented a house at 391 Dam Quang Trung Street to live in, and at the same time recruited a number of women to work as prostitutes disguised as beer pourers. Ho directly brokered, connected, and negotiated prices with the prostitutes, then brought them to the motel to engage in prostitution, receiving a portion of the money from this illegal activity.

Through a previous relationship, Nguyen Manh Ho was transferred to 7 prostitutes by Ha Thanh Tu and Ha Thi Thu Hang. Ho paid 13 million to Hang to receive the transfer of 3 out of 7 girls. To manage the network, Ho divided the group of prostitutes into two locations: 391 Dam Quang Trung Street, Duyen Hai Ward and 553 Dien Bien Street, Coc Leu Ward. At the same time, Ho established a closed group on Telegram to manage the work. Thanh was assigned to directly manage at 391; Ha Van Hieu and Nguyen Van Hieu were assigned to be brokers and "shippers" when there were customers. The subjects contacted the receptionists of many motels and hotels to form a closed network, causing difficulties for the reconnaissance force during the investigation and verification process.

The Investigation Police Agency of Lao Cai Provincial Police is continuing to expand the investigation of the case, clarifying the behavior of the subjects in the ring to handle them according to the provisions of the law.

According to VNA