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Police authorities in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, announced a major breakthrough in the long-standing case involving Zhang Weiping and others in child trafficking, following the arrest of the key suspect known as "Meiyi" or "Aunt Mei," whose real surname is Xie, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

According to police, sustained investigative efforts led to the identification and arrest of the suspect. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and with support from police in other provinces, the task force discovered that Xie's characteristics matched those of "Aunt Mei" in 2025. Further verification confirmed her identity as the elusive figure at the center of the case. During interrogation, Xie confessed to her involvement in child trafficking, Xinhua reported.

Between September 2003 and December 2005, multiple children were abducted in areas including Zengcheng district in Guangzhou and Boluo county in Huizhou, Guangdong. Following the incidents, the case was designated for supervised handling by the MPS and the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, leading to the establishment of a joint task force at the provincial, municipal and district levels, according to Guangdong-based news outlet Southern Metropolis Daily.

In 2016, police arrested Zhang and four other suspects. Zhang confessed to the child abductions and stated that the trafficked children were sold through "Aunt Mei." To facilitate family reunions as quickly as possible, the task force, together with victim families and community support, continued search and rescue operations. Between 2019 and 2024, all abducted children were successfully located and reunited with their families. 

In April 2023, Zhang and others were executed in accordance with the law. However, due to missing key information such as her true identity, "Aunt Mei" remained at large despite being a key figure in the case. The breakthrough in 2025, achieved with national and inter-provincial coordination, ultimately led to Xie's arrest and the resolution of this long-unsolved element of the case, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

Global Times