Police in southern Vietnam have arrested seven suspects over an online prostitution ring that allegedly used a chat group with more than 2,200 members to connect sex workers with clients.
Tay Ninh Provincial Police said on Oct. 6 that they had dismantled the prostitution brokerage ring operating through social media and detained seven suspects pending investigations into multiple alleged offenses.
The case came to light when officers from the provincial criminal police division, working with Tan Ninh Ward Police, inspected a hotel in Quarter 11.
Police said they caught Vu Anh Tuan, 33, a resident of Tan Hoa commune, allegedly coordinating prostitution activities in the hotel's rooms.
Vu Anh Tuan was caught by police while allegedly brokering prostitution at a hotel. Photo: Police
Officers seized evidence related to the case along with several types of stimulant drugs.
Investigators said Tuan created a social media chat group in April 2025 to advertise prostitution services, recruit sex workers and connect them with clients.
The group subsequently grew to more than 2,200 members.
Tuan allegedly assigned Lieu Van Dong and Trinh Hoang Long to administer the group, approve members, post photographs of sex workers and coordinate prostitution activities.
The suspects also allegedly photographed sex workers and posted the images on online forums to attract clients.
For each successful arrangement, Tuan allegedly collected several million dong from clients, paid a portion to the sex worker and kept the difference.
Vu Anh Tuan at a police station. Photo: Police
As the investigation expanded, police said they identified alleged offenses involving the purchase of sex from people under 18 and the rape of people under 16.
The Tay Ninh Provincial Police Investigation Agency has charged and placed seven suspects in pre-trial detention.
Tuan and Dong are being investigated on allegations of brokering prostitution, purchasing sex from people under 18 and raping people under 16.
Long and four other suspects are being investigated over allegations including brokering prostitution, harboring prostitution and purchasing sex from people under 18.
Vietnamnet.vn
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