The Ministry of Public Security has discovered a human trafficking ring and identified at least 16 women that were sold into China.

Human trafficking ring busted

16 women, who are found to be from Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan and Kien Giang provinces, were sold into prostitution or as brides in China. Two of the women from Binh Dinh Province were sold at VND300m (13,200) per person.

The two women have been transferred to the police of Binh Dinh Province on January 26.

According to the police, dozens of women across Vietnam have been sold into China since early 2014. It's suspected that the trafficker started tricking the victims via family or acquaintances of close friends in late 2013. The victims were promised high-salary jobs in Japan and South Korea in order to be persuaded to go with the trafficker.

A suspected ringleader has been arrested and the police of Binh Dinh Province are leading the prosecution. Police are expanding the investigation and said the actual number of victims could be higher.