Young couple investigated for trafficking Vietnamese citizens to China

Police in Mong Cai, a border town of Quang Ninh Province, said Thursday that they are investigating Dang Van Hien, 29, and Tran Thi Duyen, 24, on the criminal charges of "brokering illegal exit from Vietnam."

The 23 people in the truck told the police that they had left home because they were promised high salaries in China.

On Tuesday afternoon, border guards in Mong Cai discovered a truck carrying the group of 23 people from seven northern provinces.

They had been gathered by Duyen at a local bus station. Then they exchanged Vietnamese currency for Chinese money. Duyen charged 1,200 to 1,300 yuan ($178-193) per person for her service of brokering their illegal exit from Vietnam.

Hien was responsible for guiding and arranging transportation to bring the group to Bac Son commune to cross the border to China.

If convicted, Duyen and Hien can be sentenced for up to seven and 10 years in prison, and be fined up to VND10,000,000 to 50,000,000 ($431 – 2,159).