Bangladesh busts kidney trafficking gang
DHAKA: Bangladeshi police said on Tuesday (30 August 2011) they had uncovered a major organ trafficking ring that is believed to have persuaded up to 200 people to sell their kidneys for cash.
Three people were arrested on Sunday in the remote Kalai area, 300km (180 miles) northwest of Dhaka, after reports surfaced that villagers were having their organs removed illegally.
"We have found that scores of poor villagers have sold their kidneys for 150 000-200 000 taka ($2 000-$3 000)," local district police chief Fazlul Karim said.
"Some 38 villagers from five villages in the area have sold their kidneys for cash, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. We believe there could be up to 200 victims," he said.
The police investigation has found that in some families in the area, which is one of the most impoverished regions of Bangladesh, four or five people had sold their kidneys, he said.
The probe has been extended to Dhaka as investigators suspect that the organ trafficking gang includes doctors, nurses and businessmen working in the capital, he said.
"The three people we arrested are only low-level operators. Two of them had even sold their kidneys and then become part of the gang," he said.
"It is only natural to assume medical professionals are involved," he said, adding that the gang was suspected of selling organs to patients in Singapore and India.
Some of the affected villagers had become ill after their operations, he said.
Under Bangladeshi law, kidney transplants are allowed only if the organ is donated by a blood relative or spouse.
Source: AFP
Source: I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
