A girl from the Kho-Mu ethnic group from Nghe An Province has been rescued after being trafficked into China for 20 days.
On April 15, the police in Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province were told that five year-old Moong Thi Tan Mao was missing. After an investigation, police believed that Mao had been kidnapped to be sold to China.
Moong Thi Tan Mao rescued after 20 days missing
Five days later, three suspects were questioned after they returned home in Na Be Village after a trip. The suspects are claimed to have admitted that they kidnapped Mao and gave her to another man in Pung Village to be sold to China.
Lieutenant Colonel Tran Phuc Tu, head of the police force in Tuong Duong District, said, "This man in Pung Village is also our suspect in another human trafficking case but we didn't have enough evidence on him. Thanks to the testimonies, we can start investigating this man now."
It is reported that the man gradually admitted his involvement in Mao’s kidnapping. It is said that he was led to believe that Mao's family had agreed to sell her for VND50m (USD2,300). The group then decided to sell Mao at VND70m so that after paying Mao's family, he would earn VND5m. He received Mao from other accomplices, crossed the border and gave Mao to another middleman. Mao would be sold on to a Chinese family to be their adopted daughter.
The police tried to employ help from the locals to go to China and bring the girl back to her family due to the urgency of the case. Tu said one trader who has all proper papers and understood the ins and outs of working in China agreed to help. They successfully rescued the girl on May 5 and returned her to her family the next day.
The girl was well-behaved when they were travelling, only when she returned to her familiar village did she cry.
Mao returned to her village
Police of Tuong Duong District provided the family with VND3m. A representative of Rong Xanh, an organisation to support women and children who are victims of human trafficking, also came to visit Mao.
The police of Tuong Duong District are prosecuting the case.