The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security has successfully dismantled a ring accused of trafficking newborns in 32 localities across Vietnam, arresting 16 suspects, it reported at a press conference on Wednesday.

The infant trafficking ring disguised itself as an adoption service.

Through a nationwide campaign that encourages citizens to report crimes and monitors online groups, the municipal police uncovered a suspected newborn trafficking racket.

From collected information, police officers summoned Nguyen Thi Anh Dao, a 35-year-old resident of north-central Nghe An Province, who was found caring for a three-day-old male infant at a hotel in Tan Binh District.

According to her confession, she told the baby's biological mother in Dak Lak, a province in the Central Highlands, that she was unable to have children and wanted to adopt the baby.

However, her real intention was to sell the baby to a couple in Ho Chi Minh City for VND40 million (US$1,610).

Expanding their investigation, police found that the infant trafficking ring was operated by Dao; Hoang Thi Nhung, 42, from Dong Nai Province in southern Vietnam; Do Thi Thuy Ngan, a 30-year-old resident in Hanoi; and 41-year-old Cao Thi Thu Phuong from Hai Duong Province in the northern region.

The ring was assisted by six brokers.

Since early 2024, the group allegedly used social media to connect with women facing personal and financial difficulties who were unable to care for their newborns.

They are accused of purchasing a total of 16 infants, aged between three days and three months, for VND10-23 million ($402-924) each.

The infants were then reportedly sold by the ring for VND35-75 million ($1,407-3,015) each.

The network also worked with a document counterfeiting ring headed by 35-year-old Phan Phuong Nam from Dong Nai Province, acquiring forged birth certificates for the trafficked infants.

City police confiscated 49 pieces of equipment, including computers, printers, photocopiers, and seals, as well as thousands of fake documents, including bogus birth certificates.

Utilizing the counterfeit birth certificates, police established nine task forces to investigate 84 suspected baby trafficking cases across 32 provinces and cities nationwide.

To date, they have successfully identified and rescued several trafficked children and are working with local authorities to ensure their protection and care.

Among the significant rescues is a 20-day-old baby boy, who was retrieved from Vi Thi Anh, a 38-year-old resident of Son La Province.

Anh had purchased the child to delay serving a 12.5-year prison sentence for drug trafficking.

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