
The Criminal Police Department successfully rescues 11 infants from a cross-border surrogacy ring. Photo cand.com.vn
The Ministry of Public Security’s Criminal Police Department said on Friday that the group, headed by a man known as Wang, operated a highly organised network using social media, encrypted communications, and false identities to conceal illegal activities.
The case emerged after officers from Division 5 detected suspicious social media activity related to commercial surrogacy with cross-border links.
Investigators found that financially vulnerable Vietnamese women were recruited as surrogates, with some sent to China or Cambodia for embryo transfers before returning to Vietnam to give birth.
Following orders from Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security, police launched simultaneous raids on July 15.
Those detained include Quach Thi Thuong, 39, from Lam Dong; Pham Thi Hoai Thu, 38; Phung Thi Nuong, 29; and Nguyen Thi Hang, 29, from Hanoi; Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, 33, from Ninh Binh; and Lo Thi Thanh, 29, from Son La, along with other related suspects.
Eleven infants aged between nine days and three months were rescued.
Investigators said Thuong, operating under the Zalo accounts “Coca” and later “Pepsi,” was recruited by Wang in late 2021 to find healthy women under age 35 for surrogacy. She also hired caregivers and arranged birth certificates, DNA testing, and travel documents.
Thu, a former surrogate, managed hospital admissions and discharges. Thuong was paid USD 1,000 per month by Wang, while Thu received USD 500.
Each surrogate was reportedly paid between VND 300 to 400 million (approximately USD 11,460 to 15,280) per pregnancy.
Police said Thuong arranged around 60 surrogacies and earned VND 575 million, while Thu coordinated 40 cases and earned VND 345 million. Some former surrogates were rehired as nannies for up to VND 750,000 per day.
To avoid detection, members of the ring lived in luxury, high-security apartments and regularly changed addresses.
Three Chinese nationals who entered Vietnam in May to collect a baby were also detained. Police believe they were acting under the instructions of another Chinese suspect.
Thuong, Thu, Nuong, Hang, Trang, Thanh, and Vo Thi Lan have been charged with organising surrogacy for commercial purposes.
The 11 infants are now under the care of the Centre for Women and Development, run by the Vietnam Women’s Union.
Authorities are working with the Ministry of Health’s Department for Maternal and Child Health and the Vietnam Children’s Protection Fund to ensure the babies’ safety as investigations continue.