On 1/3, Sam, a resident of Chau Tien commune, was temporarily detained by Nghe An Provincial Police for reinvestigation into the crime of child trafficking.

Suspect Nguyen Thi Sam (right) at the time of her arrest. Photo: *Police provided*

According to police records, between 2007 and 2010, Sam devised a plan to recruit domestic helpers, offering a monthly salary of 900,000 VND. She used this ruse to entice children from mountainous regions, subsequently selling them as wives to Chinese individuals. Believing her promises, five children from Quy Chau district and the former Thai Hoa town accepted her offer. Sam then transported them across the border, selling them to local individuals in China. She collected nearly 9 million VND from these transactions.

In 2011, Sam fled to China, where she changed her identity and background. During her more than 15 years as a fugitive, the child trafficker repeatedly changed residences to evade capture by authorities.

Recently, while reviewing wanted fugitives, Nghe An Provincial Police identified a suspicious woman living in Hanoi. After verification, detectives confirmed this individual was Sam and coordinated with professional units to make the arrest.

Duc Hung