YANGON, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 126 human trafficking cases were registered across Myanmar in the first half of 2019, the country's Anti-Trafficking Police Force said on Wednesday.
From Jan. 1 to June 30, 371 traffickers were coped with in connection with the cases while 171 people including 24 children were victimized.
In June alone, 30 people including four children were victimized and 66 traffickers were charged in connection with 22 cases.
The trafficking cases mostly took place in Yangon region and Shan states while cases were registered in Kachin states, Ayeyawady and Mandalay regions, respectively.
There were 317 people including 25 children were victimized in connection with 206 human trafficking cases in the country last year.
Forced marriage was blamed for the main cause of human trafficking in Myanmar, followed by forced prostitution, labor exploitation or forced labor, illegal adoption and illegal surrogacy.
Under 2005 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, people who smuggle women and children are sentenced to at least 10 years or up to life sentence or fine.
Money or property received through trafficking will be confiscated by the government.
