A total of 177 people were smuggled in Myanmar in the first 10 months of 2018, the official Global New Light of Myanmar quoted anti-human trafficking police as reporting Thursday.

In connection with the cases during the period, 502 suspects were arrested and 277 victims were rescued.

In addition, the police busted 136 cases of forced marriage, 24 cases of forced prostitution, 11 cases of labor exploitation, three cases of illegal surrogacy and one case of forced child sale.

The human trafficking victims were primarily sent to domestic markets and neighboring countries including China and Thailand.

Myanmar's Shan state topped the number of cases, followed by Yangon and Mandalay regions and Kachin state.

Myanmar's government has set up a liaison office for anti-human trafficking with its counterpart in China and Thailand, while participating in cooperation with six countries in the Mekong region and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to the 2005 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, people who smuggle women and children are to be sentenced to at least 10 years or up to a lifetime sentence or a fine. Money or property received through trafficking will be confiscated by the government under that law.