Chinese authorities have cracked down two child-trafficking rings after a six-month national investigation spanning 10 provinces, which led to the rescue of 178 children and the arrest of 608 suspects. 　　According to the Ministry of Public Security, the raid was one of the biggest victories for anti-trafficking. A boy can fetch a price of up to 7,800 US dollars while girls can sell for 3,100 US dollars, as a result of a preference over male offspring in Chinese society. 　　Human trafficking has been a major problem in China, with children and women being the primary victims. Premier Wen Jia-Bao pledged last week that the government would continue to curb human-trafficking to protect women and children. 　　Since the government launched a national campaign against human trafficking in April 2009, more than 18,000 children and around 35,000 women were rescued, while 50,000 suspects have been arrested.