Six held as illegal kidney trade racket uncovered in Lahore
Two Omanis among those arrested had paid Rs7million each for a kidney
Two Omanis among those arrested had paid Rs7million each for a kidney. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
LAHORE:
Investigators have uncovered an illegal kidney donation racket and arrested six people, including two doctors, after raiding a house where unauthorised surgeries were reportedly underway, a senior official told AFP Monday.
Authorities say the gang was involved in selling kidneys to international clients, particularly from wealthy Gulf nations.
"A team comprising seven officials raided a house in Lahore and caught four people red-handed illegally transplanting kidneys to two Oman nationals," Jamil Ahmad Mayo, Deputy Director of the Federal Investigation Agency, told AFP.
FIA empowered to curb human organ trafficking
The two Omanis, who have also been taken into custody, had paid seven million rupees ($70,000) each for a kidney, he said.
Organs can only be donated by close relatives in Pakistan and buying and selling them is illegal.
However, a chronic shortage of organs for transplant has fuelled a black market, with acute poverty forcing people to sell their kidneys to eke out a living.
Investigators have uncovered an illegal kidney donation racket and arrested six people, including two doctors, after raiding a house where unauthorised surgeries were reportedly underway, a senior official told AFP Monday.
Authorities say the gang was involved in selling kidneys to international clients, particularly from wealthy Gulf nations.
"A team comprising seven officials raided a house in Lahore and caught four people red-handed illegally transplanting kidneys to two Oman nationals," Jamil Ahmad Mayo, Deputy Director of the Federal Investigation Agency, told AFP.
FIA empowered to curb human organ trafficking
The two Omanis, who have also been taken into custody, had paid seven million rupees ($70,000) each for a kidney, he said.
Organs can only be donated by close relatives in Pakistan and buying and selling them is illegal.
However, a chronic shortage of organs for transplant has fuelled a black market, with acute poverty forcing people to sell their kidneys to eke out a living.