Twenty–three people, mostly ethnic groups, who were conned into going to China to work, and ended up in prostitution or not being paid, have been rescued and sent home.

Nguyen Thanh Tuan, Deputy Head of northern Ha Giang province’s Thanh Thuy Border Post, said most of the victims were poorly educated ethnic people from under privileged back-grounds.

The border post had the cooperation of China ’s police and border guards in the operation, he said.

The group included 10 women aged between 18 and 30 from provinces of Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Nghe An, Dak Lak and Hanoi.

Luong Thi Duong (an alias), 23, of Dak Lak province, said she was conned and taken illegally across the border to China ’s Guangxi province where she was forced into prostitution.

“I was sexually abused by many customers each day without receiving any payment. If I refused, I would have been beaten to death,” she said.

She said her family was poor and she just thought that she would have a chance to do some labouring work at Lao Cai border gate to earn money.

Authorities said, illegal trading of women and children from Ha Giang province to China was on the increase.-VNA