On October 24, the 11th Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Unit (Mandalay), commanded by police major and his task force members spotted Chinese national Gao Fengying and three young women, who were boarding a plane for Thailand via MAI Airlines while conducting a joint inspection, together with personnel on duty at the Mandalay International Airport, on outbound passengers. Upon investigation on them, those three young women were victims of trafficking, having recruited through social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to be sent to China for the purpose of becoming brides of Chinese nationals. Furthermore, it was uncovered that 11 other young women, also victims of trafficking for the same purpose, were being held at a location between 115 and 116 streets on 64th Street in the Pyigyidagun Township of Mandalay.
After investigating the phone communications of three young women, authorities rescued 11 young women, who were being organized to work as brides of Chinese nationals. According to the investigation details:
- Authorities arrested a woman named Daw Nang Sai Kham (aka) Mama who has formed a group to organize young women to marry Chinese men. She linked to brokers such as Ma May Htet Naing Oo (aka) Ma Htet, Mg Chit Htoo, and Ma Phyo Phyo Wai through a WeChat application aimed at finding girls to be sent to China. She rented a three-story building in the 86th Street and near Kantaunggyi circular road in Mandalay, as well as a house located between 115th and 116th Streets in the 64th Street in Pyigyitagon Township, to gather and control young women for human trafficking activities.
- Ma May Htet Naing Oo (Ma Htet), Chit Htoo, and his wife Ma Phyo Phyo Wai, searched for and persuaded girls within Myanmar via social media platforms. Then they sent the women to the houses rented and tasked Ma Zin Thu Khine to watch the victims. Under the guidance of Daw Nang Sai Kham (aka) Mama, they facilitated the issuance of passports and marriage visas for these young women.
- Daw Nang Sai Kham (aka) Mama made arrangement for Chinese nationals, Gao Fengying Lin Jian and his mother Li to come to Myanmar.
- The young women, who are seeking job opportunities through social networks like Facebook and TikTok, victims of trafficking. Before this, the victims were sent to China through crossing border regions, but recently, the victims are being facilitated to China through Thailand.
Eight human traffickers: Daw Nang Sai Kham (aka) Mama (arrested); Ma May Htet Naing Oo (aka) Ma Htet (still at large); Ma Zin Thu Khine (at large); Chit Htoo (arrested); Ma Phyo Phyo Wai (arrested); Chinese national Gao Fengying (arrested); Chinese national Lin Jian (arrested); and his mother Li Manfen (arrested) have been filed at the Airport Police Station in Tada-U Township with file case no (Pa) 23/2024 and (Pa) 24/2024 under Anti-Human Trafficking Law Section 38(a)/44, at the Pyigyitagon Myoma Police Station with file case no (Pa) 260/2024 and (Pa) 26q/2024 under Anti-Human Trafficking Law Section 38(a)/44, it is reported.
Source: MWD (1-11-2024)
- The 11th Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Unit (Mandalay) rescued 14 young women who have been organized for marrying with Chinses nationals.
- Before this, the victims were sent to China through crossing border regions, but recently, the victims are being facilitated to China through Thailand.
- Authorities have arrested eight human traffickers in Mandalay and opened files against them.