Over 170 human trafficking cases reported in the first ten months

09 November 2018
Over 170 human trafficking cases reported in the first ten months
A Myanmar police officer looks at Human Trafficking exhibition during a ceremony marking Anti-Human Trafficking Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, 13 September 2018. Photo: Hein Htet/EPA

Over 170 human trafficking cases have been reported in the first ten months of this year, including the forced selling of children and illegal surrogacy, according to state media quoting the Myanmar Anti-Trafficking in Person Division, Myanmar Police Force.

Between January and October 2018, 177 cases of human trafficking were investigated, with 502 suspects arrested and 277 victims of human trafficking rescued. A 3-month-old baby boy was sold by his mother in Chin State to repay some debts, said an official from the anti-trafficking division.

Additionally, 136 cases of forced marriages, 24 cases of forced prostitution, 11 cases of labour exploitation, three cases of illegal surrogacy, two case of forced domestic workers and one case of child-selling were reported.

The human trafficking victims were primarily sent to China, Thailand and domestic labour markets. China is a common destination for trafficking in persons, with 144 cases being investigated. Three cases were found in Thailand, while 30 people were trafficked locally, according to data from the anti-trafficking division.