Actively combat human trafficking.

(Baonghean.vn) -The Hanh Dich Border Guard Station (Nghe An Border Guard Command) is tasked with managing and protecting 20.5 km of the Vietnam-Laos national border and 6 border markers, and is responsible for the area of ​​2 border communes, Hanh Dich and Nam Giai (Que Phong district), with 18 villages.

Recently, in this area, many individuals have taken advantage of the difficult economic conditions and limited education of the local people to lure and deceive young women into going to work far away with promises of high income and easy jobs, but in reality, they are being trafficked to China or forced into prostitution.

In light of this situation, the Party Committee and Command of Hanh Dich Border Guard Station identified the prevention and combating of human trafficking as a key, ongoing, and long-term task. The unit's Party Committee and command issued a leadership resolution and developed a plan for implementation; simultaneously, they thoroughly disseminated the task of combating human trafficking to every officer and soldier in the unit. The Station Command deployed and utilized forces to strengthen patrols and strictly control the movement of people and vehicles in and out of the border area; they understood the schemes, methods, and tactics of various types of traffickers and proactively devised effective countermeasures.

On March 21, 2013, the Hanh Dich Border Guard Post received a distress call from a citizen residing in Mut village, Hanh Dich commune, Que Phong district, requesting assistance in rescuing two young women, Ngan Thi L (16 years old) and Ha Thi M (17 years old), who had been tricked into prostitution in the coastal area of ​​Dien Chau district. The Hanh Dich Border Guard Post reported the incident to the Nghe An Border Guard Command and coordinated with the Dien Thanh Border Guard Post's reconnaissance force to urgently search guesthouses in Dien Chau district. Using professional methods, at 7:30 PM on March 22, 2013, the Hanh Dich Border Guard Post, in coordination with functional units of the Nghe An Border Guard Command, located the two young women, L. and M., at the Toan Hien restaurant in the Hon Cau beach tourist area (Dien Hai commune, Dien Chau district). Here, authorities successfully rescued L. and M. from Toan Hien restaurant and returned them to their families.

Recently, as part of Special Case "321L" of the Nghe An Border Guard Command, aimed at combating a human trafficking ring in the area, the Hanh Dich Border Guard Post Command actively directed the Crime Prevention Team and the Intelligence Team to develop and implement operational plans, investigate, and gather relevant information; thoroughly understanding the methods and tactics of the individuals involved in the human trafficking ring. After a period of monitoring the activities of the individuals involved in the human trafficking ring, the unit's intelligence reported to the Party Committee and the Post Command to plan the arrest of the suspects.

Two human traffickers were arrested by Hanh Dich Border Guard Station.

On September 26, 2013, the authorities received a tip from the public that two individuals had entered the area and were contacting and luring several young women from disadvantaged families. They painted a rosy picture of high wages and easy work in China, promising that if they were lucky, they could marry wealthy men and settle permanently in the country. Enticed by these sweet promises, two women agreed to go to China. To demonstrate the ease of earning money, on the evening of September 27, 2013, the individuals gave the women 11 million VND to pay off their family's bank debts, promising to depart on the morning of September 28, 2013.

Having obtained this information, the scouts actively monitored the movements of the suspects and reported the situation to the station commander for guidance. Immediately, the station commander directed the scouts to coordinate with the Anti-Crime Department of the Nghe An Border Guard to combat the suspects. According to the plan, on the morning of September 28, 2013, the two human traffickers arranged to meet two women from Hanh Dich commune at the Phu Phuong intersection in Que Phong district. They then boarded a bus to the Yen Ly intersection (Dien Chau district) to take another bus to Mong Cai, Quang Ninh province.

The investigators closely monitored and tracked the suspects' every move, ensuring secrecy. Around 5:30 PM that same day, the two suspects and the victims arrived at the Yen Ly intersection to catch a bus bound for Mong Cai – Quang Ninh. Recognizing the opportune moment to crack the case, the "321L" special task force directed the investigators to launch the raid. At 6:20 PM on September 28, 2013, at kilometer 406 on National Highway 1A in Quynh Giang commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province, the Hanh Dich Border Guard Post and the Crime Prevention Department of the Nghe An Border Guard Command, in coordination with the Traffic Police and the Nghe An Provincial Police, inspected a passenger bus with license plate 14B-00439 traveling on the Nghe An - Mong Cai route and caught the two suspects red-handed.They were transporting people to Mong Cai, Quang Ninh province, to smuggle them into China.

Through questioning, the two suspects, Lang Thi Mai (born in 1981, from Moong village, Cam Muon commune, Que Phong district, Nghe An province) and Vi Thi Hieu (born in 1981, from Pieng Chao village, Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district, Nghe An province - both married to Chinese men), confessed to the act of luring people to China for sale to make a profit. Notably, both suspects had previously been victims of human trafficking to China and were now plotting to return to their hometowns to trick fellow villagers into being trafficked abroad.

The three rescued victims are: Luong Thi Thu (born in 1986); Luong Thi Than (born in 1992, both residing in Khom village, Hanh Dich commune, Que Phong district) and Lo Van Giao (born in 1986, residing in Cam village, Cam Muon commune, Que Phong district), who have been reunited with their families.

Educating the public on how to prevent human trafficking.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Hai, Political Officer of Hanh Dich Border Guard Station, said: "Besides measures to prevent and apprehend human traffickers, the unit also coordinates with local authorities to actively organize community meetings to educate people not to be swayed by the sweet promises of traffickers, and to constantly raise their vigilance against the schemes of human traffickers. In the long term, to end this situation, relevant levels and sectors must strive to create conditions for people to have jobs and stable incomes. Only then will people feel secure, committed to their villages, and have stable lives."

Text and photos:Le Thach