Kathmandu, August 30

The Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police has rounded up 10 persons, including four Chinese nationals, for allegedly operating a bride trafficking ring under the guise of cross-country marriage.

The suspects of transnational trafficking racket have been identified as Zhen Xianjdong, Zhang Donghui, Quan Zhan Peng and Qin Liyang of Hubei Province, China, while their Nepal-based associates have been identified as Rina Tamang Bibirani, Parbati Gurung, Amrita Gurung, Usha Ghimire, Roj Tamang and Bharat Tamang. Senior Superintendent of Police Ishwar Babu Karki, AHTB in-charge, said they were involved in trafficking Nepali girls and women to China as brides.

The Chinese nationals mobilised their Nepali associates, including four women, to lure unwary girls and women into fake marriages with them as part of ‘bride-buying practice’, which is pervasive in some parts of the northern neighbour.

The practice enables the ‘groom’ to resell his ‘bride’ as personal property.

The AHTB swung into action and broadened the scope of investigation after it arrested two Chinese suspects, Quan and Qin, with two Nepali ‘brides’ from Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday.

Girls and women who were victims of the trafficking racket were from Kaski, Chitwan, Sunsari and Lamjung districts. Police also rescued five victims.

Nepali agents of the trafficking ring arrested by the AHTB were mobilised in remote parts of the country to search for potential ‘brides’, who could be trafficked to China through fake marriages.

Agent Gurung had rented a house in Tokha to train victims to become ‘perfect brides of Chinese men’. The Chinese men would also be provided with an opportunity to have a video chat with their ‘prospective brides’ before preparing marriage documents.

According to the AHTB, the Chinese men paid up to one million rupees for a Nepali ‘bride’. Unsuspecting girls and women, mainly uneducated and needy but good-looking and young, were made to conclude paper marriage with Chinese nationals with promise of a ‘blissful married life abroad’. In some case, traffickers would also convince parents or guardians of the victims.

SSP Karki said the alleged members of the trafficking racket had been charged with human trafficking and organised crime. He said the AHTB had launched a thorough investigation into the case.