Police in Hanoi’s Dong Da District on Sunday arrested two local women for allegedly masterminding a commercial surrogacy ring, with each pregnancy with twins worth up to VND1.5 billion (US$61,370).

They were identified as Tran Thi Bich Thuan, 47, and her sister Tran Thi Bich Van, 40.

Earlier, police officers summoned Thuan and a number of pregnant women to a police station for questioning after the forces raided a house in Phuong Lien Ward and discovered the women there.

At the police station, M., a pregnant woman from southern Ca Mau Province, confessed that she knew Thuan was a surrogacy broker from social media.

As M. wanted to make money through surrogacy, she contacted Thuan who suggested paying M. VND280 million ($11,440) for each surrogacy.

This sum of money would be paid by installments according to each stage of fetal development.

M. also admitted that she had agreed to carry a child for a married couple from north-central Nghe An Province, with the husband named T..

On April 11 this year, Thuan took M. to a hospital to undergo embryo implantation, after which M. was paid VND50 million ($2,040).

The married couple were also called to the police station where they confessed that they had contacted Van for surrogate services as they are old and unable to have a baby.

The couple completed procedures needed for the services, worth a total VND800 million ($32,690), following instructions given by Van.

This sum of money was transferred to Van’s bank account in phases.

By the time the ring was busted, the couple had transferred VND500 million ($20,460) to Van.

The forces expanded their investigation into the ring and summoned D. and his wife, both residing in Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan District, for questioning due to their alleged involvement in the racket.

D. and his wife previously reached a deal with Van in which the latter had to find a surrogate mother for the couple at VND1 billion ($40,870) for a single pregnancy and VND1.5 billion ($61,370) for twins.

D. had transferred VND200 million ($8,180) to Van for a surrogate mother to undergo embryo implantation.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!