Angolan authorities have detained 14 individuals, mostly Vietnamese nationals, in Luanda for the sexual exploitation of 12 women from the same Asian country, the Serviço de Investigação Criminal (SIC) announced today.
In a statement, the SIC said that 11 Vietnamese citizens, two Chinese nationals, and one Angolan — a member of the National Police — were arrested “for acts constituting the crimes of criminal association, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation.”
According to Angolan investigators, there is strong evidence of the recruitment of foreign women of Vietnamese nationality for illegal prostitution activities in exchange for money.
With a search and seizure warrant, authorities dismantled the network operating in the municipality of Viana, in the Vila Sede neighborhood, Cidade da China area, at a nightlife venue.
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During the operation, 12 Vietnamese women aged between 18 and 34 were identified and rescued. They had been lured into the country with false promises of employment.
“Once in Angola, their passports were confiscated by the criminal network, which subjected them to sexual exploitation,” the SIC said, adding that the women had entered the country on tourist visas, some more than four months ago.
They reportedly received monthly payments ranging from 400,000 kwanzas (around €370) to 700,000 kwanzas (around €647), depending on their “performance.”
Authorities also seized various items used in the activity, along with cash in Angolan kwanzas, US dollars, Chinese yuan, and Vietnamese dong.
The suspects will be brought before the Public Prosecutor for legal proceedings, while investigations continue.
This is the second case of sexual exploitation of foreign women reported by Angolan authorities this month.
In the first case, a Chinese and an Angolan national — leaders of another network also operating in Viana — were arrested, and 20 foreign women were rescued, including 13 Vietnamese nationals and others from China, Cambodia, and Morocco.
