Police rescue 46 girls forced into 'services' at karaoke bar

Police simultaneously raided karaoke bars and "holding facilities" across four provinces, rescuing 46 female attendants involved in a human trafficking ring of minors under 16.

On 1/10, the Criminal Police Department (C02) under the Ministry of Public Security announced that Hanoi City Police had initiated legal proceedings against eight individuals for human trafficking of minors under 16, pursuant to Article 151 of the Penal Code.

The defendants include Dinh Quoc Hoang, 41; Nguyen Ba Giang, 24; Lu Van Tam, 27; Nguyen Ha Thanh, 38; Nguyen Ba Quyet, 33; Dang Vu Hai, 36; Nguyen Thi Toi, 61; and Tran Van Tinh, 22.

Hoang, the owner of Kimochi karaoke bar in Vinh Thanh commune, was identified as the ringleader. He has two prior convictions for intentionally causing injury and disturbing public order.

According to the police, Hoang's group posted "easy work, high salary" advertisements on social media to lure girls under 16 into working as karaoke attendants. The ring operated in multiple stages, coordinating with individuals in various localities to locate, traffic, and manage victims.

The group set up "holding facilities" in Hoa Xa commune and nearby areas, managed by Thanh, and another facility in Ngoc Chi hamlet, Vinh Thanh commune, managed by Giang.

Around 20:05 on 20/9, six task forces from C02 and local police simultaneously inspected karaoke bars and these "holding facilities" for attendants in Hanoi, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, and Ninh Binh.

In Hanoi, police rescued 34 female attendants, 12 of whom were under 16. Seven others were rescued at Quyet Tien karaoke bar in Ninh Binh, and five at 68 karaoke bar in Lao Cai.

Police confiscated numerous phones, ledgers detailing staff transportation and money collection, and other related documents.

Defendants Thanh, Hoang, Tinh (from left to right). Photo: Police provided

12-year-old girl sold through three people

Initial investigations reveal that from 2025 to the present, Hoang and his accomplices carried out multiple cases of human trafficking involving minors under 16.

A 12-year-old girl from Cao Bang province, who sought work online, was sold to Tinh in Ninh Binh for 10 million dong. Tinh then sold her to Hoang for 30 million dong.

At Kimochi bar, the girl was forced to serve customers in singing rooms, pour beer, and select songs to "pay off her debt." Approximately three months later, on the evening of 21/1, Hoang sold her again to Thanh for 30 million dong.

Thanh took the girl to a rented room, forcing her to state on camera that she had borrowed 30 million dong and had to work at the bar to repay the debt. This video was used to create a false debt to control her.

Another girl, 14, residing in Hanoi, was invited by friends to work at "Khuc Nhac Vui Quan" karaoke bar in Hai Phong. After nearly one month of work, she received no salary, only food and accommodation.

In 2/2026, Tinh sold the girl to Hoang for 29 million dong. About one week after arriving at Kimochi bar, Hoang's staff threatened to beat her. Hoang then sold her to Hai in Lao Cai for 29 million dong, forcing her to work at the bar to repay the debt.

C02 is expanding the investigation and pursuing other individuals involved.