Post date: Aug 25, 2012 10:20:2 PM
Suspected Chinese criminal gang members are flown back to China from Angola, along with their victims, some of who say they were forced into prostitution. Sunita Rappai reports.
CHINA -CRIMINAL GANGS - Handcuffed and with their faces hidden by balaclavas - 37 suspected Chinese gang members arrive in Beijing from Angola.
They've been charged with committing a number of crimes against Chinese nationals in the West African country - including kidnapping, robbery, blackmail and human trafficking, state media says.
Arriving with them on the plane - some of their victims, who say they were coerced into prostitution in Angola.
The suspected gangs were busted in a joint operation by Angolan and Chinese police after a complaint by the Chinese embassy to China's Ministry of Public Security that the gangs were running rampant.
Four Chinese women who had been forced to work as prostitutes were also rescued from this Angolan brothel as part of the operation.
They say there were offered highly paid jobs but had their passports confiscated and were forced into the brothel when they arrived.
The rescue operation marks the first time that Chinese police have carried out a large-scale crackdown like this one on crimes involving Chinese citizens in Africa.