Hanoi police have detained two individuals from Bo De Pagoda, who cared for orphans and abandoned children, under the suspicion of child trading.

 Abandoned children at Bo De Pagoda

The police department of social crimes detained Nguyen Thi Thanh Trang, the orphanage manager at Bo De Pagoda in Long Bien District, along with her suspected accomplice Pham Thi Nguyet.

Nguyen Thanh Long, a resident of Hanoi, participated in a charity work at Bo De Pagoda and got acquainted with some of the people there.

On November 29, 2013, he received a message from Trang, saying that there was an abandoned infant at the pagoda gate. Long and his wife came and offered to adopt the child. The monks named the child Cu Nguyen Cong.

However, on December 31, Trang called Long and told him to bring the child back to the pagoda because they were going to be inspected. On January 4, when Long's wife came to pick the child up, he was no longer there.

At that time, Trang explained that the child's mother had taken him back, but Long and his wife were not convinced. He asked several media outlets to help get information.

Police are investigating the case.

Bo De Pagoda is well-known for its charity work and has taken in many orphans and abandoned children. Many donors have helped to care for the children. The monks must hire people in order to look after so many children.

Recently, concerns were raised after rumours about child trafficking at Bo De Pagoda started to circulate.