The two suspects - Zhu Gui Neng, 47, and Liu Fang Quan, 36, - reside in Yunnan province. They allegedly ran a ring that was unlawfully transporting groups of ethnic Vietnamese people to Laos through unofficial routes.

The two Chinese men were caught red handed in the Ka Tang area in Lao Bao Town on March 23 taking a group of 21 Vietnamese ethnic people for illegal immigration into Laos.

At the police station, the suspects later confessed that they had entered Vietnam via Sam Pun border gate in northern Ha Giang province to recruit employees for Zhu Gui Neng’s company in Laos.

Each ethnic Vietnamese person was required to pay some CNY280, equal to US$38,7, for the transportation. The expenses were then to be deducted from their salary after successfully entering Laos.

A further investigation into the case is now underway.