A top-wanted suspect has been arrested for abduction and forced prostitution of women, said the Public Security Ministry on Tuesday in a press release on its website.

Pan Nianyou, a 32-year-old suspect from Sancui county of southwest China's Guizhou Province, was caught in Dongtai city of eastern Jiangsu Province.

From 1995 to 1996, Pan, together with several others, abducted women from his hometown to Xuwen County of southern Guangdong Province. They used the excuse of providing jobs for these victims who then were forced to become prostitutes.

Pan ran away after the crime ring was discovered and was made the A-level wanted suspect by the ministry on April 29 of this year.

After the interrogation, Pan confessed to the crime.

Since late June, police authorities have launched a three-month nationwide campaign to clamp down on prostitution ahead of National Day. Individuals or groups who force, tempt, permit or introduce women to prostitution are among targets.

About 3,000 child and women abduction cases are recorded and investigated by Chinese authorities annually, but some experts estimate that 10,000 to 20,000 Chinese women or children fall into the hands of kidnappers each year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2009)