Thi Kieu Anh Hoang, 29, and Tuan Khac Doan, 38, have been sentenced after trafficking two teenagers from Vietnam to the UK to work in a nail bar in Cheshire. Both individuals, residing in Frodsham, were found guilty of bringing a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy into the UK under false pretenses.
The teenagers were initially brought to the country in June 2023 for what was supposed to be a two-week educational visit to Oxford. However, their fate took a tragic turn as they were trafficked into exploitation. Police discovered the teenagers were in contact with Doan during their stay, who had arranged for them to be brought to Frodsham.
The boy was found working at the nail bar on Church Street, Frodsham, on December 12, 2023. When police arrived to check on staff welfare, Hoang, who was running the business, denied knowing the teenager, despite the fact that he had been reported as missing. Hoang was promptly arrested.
Meanwhile, the girl was found at a house rented by Hoang and Doan on September 29, 2023. Doan attempted to flee with her to London, but she bravely called the police the following day, leading to his arrest.
Both Hoang and Doan had pleaded guilty to two counts of facilitating the illegal entry of the teenagers into the UK. Hoang was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, while Doan received a four-and-a-half-year sentence.
Detective Sergeant Huxley of Cheshire Police emphasized the vulnerability of the teenagers, who were promised a better life, only to be exploited for financial gain. He urged anyone with information on trafficking to come forward to help protect vulnerable individuals and punish those responsible for such crimes.
