On 30/12, the Criminal Police Department (C02), under the Ministry of Public Security, collaborated with Can Tho City Police and Cambodian authorities to successfully rescue two 14-year-old girls, Nguyen and Vu.

Criminal Police Department, An Giang Border Guard Command receive two victims. *Photo: Ministry of Public Security*.

Previously, the girls' families reported that their daughters had been tricked into being taken to Cambodia. Initial verification by police located the two victims being held in Prek Seung hamlet, Kandal province, Cambodia.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister and Head of the Investigative Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security, immediately directed C02 to establish a task force. This team, working with representatives from the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam in Cambodia and Kandal provincial authorities, raided the 4th floor of Building B5 at ETH Company, successfully rescuing the two teenage girls.

According to the girls' accounts, around June, Nguyen worked at a karaoke bar in Can Tho City, where she met Ha Thi Truc Linh, 23, from Kien Giang province. In early November, Linh informed Nguyen about a garment company near the Long Binh border gate in An Giang, which was hiring workers with monthly salaries of 20-30 million VND. Linh then invited Nguyen and Vu to work there.

Following Linh's instructions, the two teenage girls took a taxi from Can Tho City to an area near Ba Chua Xu Mountain in An Giang. There, a man with a covered face took them by boat across the border into Cambodia. From that point, they were transported by motorbike to ETH Company in Kandal province to meet Linh. They were taken for meals and rest, without the specific job details being clarified.

While at the company, Nguyen overheard Linh mentioning she would receive approximately 60 million VND in commission for bringing the two girls to Cambodia. The following morning, the girls were instructed to learn computer typing to participate in scamming activities.

Nguyen and Vu refused to comply and demanded to return to Vietnam. They were then told they would only be released if they paid 36 million VND each. Both girls appealed to their families for help.

C02 continues to coordinate with Can Tho City Police to verify the roles of all individuals involved.

Quoc Thang