Myanmar Anti-Trafficking Police Force on Wednesday said that 126 human trafficking cases were registered across the country in the first half of 2019.
The force explained that from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2019, 371 traffickers were caught in connection with the cases while 171 people including 24 children were victimised.
“In June alone, 30 people including four children were victimised and 66 traffickers were charged in connection with 22 cases.
“The trafficking cases mostly took place in Yangon region and Shan states while cases were registered in Kachin states, Ayeyawady and Mandalay regions, respectively.
“There were 317 people including 25 children were victimized in connection with 206 human trafficking cases in the country last year.’’
The Anti-Trafficing police force added that forced marriage was blamed for the main cause of human trafficking in Myanmar, followed by forced prostitution, labor exploitation or forced labor, illegal adoption and illegal surrogacy.
According to the force, under 2005 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, people who smuggle women and children are sentenced to at least 10 years or up to life sentence or fine.
It added that money or property received through trafficking will be confiscated by the government. (Xinhua/NAN)