According to Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung, Deputy Minister of Public Security, in recent years, human trafficking crimes have become increasingly sophisticated, organised, expanding their targets from women and children to men, and thoroughly exploiting high technology to commit transnational crimes. This type of crime is especially dangerous, second only to drug and weapons trafficking.
In Viet Nam, the police force has discovered and investigated hundreds of cases, rescued many victims, and dismantled inter-provincial and cross-border networks; at the same time, coordinating with ministries, branches, and international organisations to enhance capacity, improve laws, and support victims.
In 2024, the country handled 163 human trafficking cases, 455 subjects, and 500 victims; prosecuted 91 new cases, 237 subjects, and 336 victims. In the first six months of 2025, it prosecuted 120 cases, and 365 defendants; the Criminal Police force alone handled 22 cases, of which 28% of victims were taken abroad, 72% were trafficked domestically, and female victims accounted for nearly 67%.
Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hue City Nguyen Van Phuong said: In August 2024, the City Police successfully dismantled a ring that trafficked children under 16 years old to Cambodia, arrested four suspects, and rescued three victims. This is not necessarily a professional achievement, but rather is a reminder to always be vigilant, because this crime is present everywhere, at all times.
According to crime research experts, human trafficking crimes are no longer limited to cross-border networks but have become deeply rooted in some offenders. These offenders are always present in social life. They often seek to exploit every loophole, lack of understanding, and even the indifference or avoidance within the community.
The efforts from the Government cannot be denied. The Law on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking No.53/2024/QH15, passed by the National Assembly in 2024, replaced the old law from 2011, creating a clearer legal foundation for handling crimes and protecting victims. Many guiding documents have also been issued; information technology is applied to build a national database to serve the prevention and combat of this type of crime.
However, no matter how determined, the authorities still need the cooperation of the whole society, each family, and each individual, with every citizen acting as an active participant in the fight against human trafficking...
According to many security officers, part of the reason why crime is widespread is due to the lack of attention from the community and family. This should be a solid “first line of defence” to prevent risks. In the family environment, with just attention and interaction, changes in the psychology, abnormalities in thinking and actions of members will be easily noticed, allowing for appropriate and timely responses and interventions.
Although the Government has proposed many solutions and key tasks: improving education on life skills, gender, identifying criminal tricks; increasing communication; economic development, poverty reduction, expanding schools in remote areas so that children are not deprived of opportunities.
But the Government itself cannot grasp the thoughts and compassion of each individual, the immature thoughts of children in the process of growing up, or each family conflict that arises in life... Meanwhile, this is always fertile ground for criminals to spread evil.
The theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation”. And the “exploitation” mentioned is sometimes close to home. It exists in the indifferent eyes of neighbours, in the indifferent head shake of relatives.
Victims, sometimes, have been lured into clinging to the “sharing” buoy from the bad guys, like the relative of a girl in Ha Noi who shared: “Not only texting and calling, that person also recharged game money and sent pocket money to the child without the family knowing. When the child fell under pressure from studying, conflicted with her parents, that person promised the child a “happier” life if she left home”…
Fighting against human trafficking is a war without gunfire, but requires alertness, determination, and commitment from all levels, all sectors, and all people. And every victory will never be complete if it remains only dependent on the efforts of one side.
