Kidney and liver trafficking ring arrested, receiving 'brokerage' fees of 450-550 million VND

(Chinhphu.vn) - The police force has just discovered a group of people buying and selling human body parts in Hanoi, earning a "brokerage" profit of 450-550 million VND for each case.

The Ministry of Public Security has just announced that, through the work of grasping the situation, the Criminal Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) discovered a group of people buying and selling human body parts (liver, kidney) in Hanoi and other localities, led by Pham Van Hung (42 years old, residing in Hai Phong City).

The Criminal Police Department has assigned the Department of Prevention and Investigation of Crimes Against Personal Identity to establish a special project to combat and eradicate them.

Hanoi police busted a kidney trafficking ring worth 1.2 billion VND per kidney.

Based on the documents of the investigation, on September 10, the Criminal Police Department presided over and coordinated with the Criminal Police Department of Hanoi City Police to arrest and urgently search the residences of the people involved in the ring: Pham Van Hung (42 years old); Tran Ngoc Ba (35 years old); Phung Thi Thao (41 years old); Le Thanh Thanh (27 years old); Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan (34 years old); Pham Thi Ngoc Thuy (33 years old); Nguyen Thi Hoa (36 years old). At the same time, the people with related rights and obligations were summoned and questioned.

As a result of searching the residences of the people involved, the police seized many related objects and documents, including many sets of records for screening and testing compatibility indicators of people who wanted to sell their kidneys for kidney transplants.

Based on the results of the investigation, documents, evidence collected and statements of the people involved in the ring, the police determined that the above people had sold their own kidneys and livers, so they knew the procedures for buying and selling human body parts in the form of donations.

At the same time, realizing that they would make a profit from brokering the sale of human body parts (liver, kidney), they colluded with each other to find people who wanted to buy and sell kidneys and livers to broker and profit.

About 1.2 billion VND for 1 kidney

To find people who want to buy and sell kidneys and livers, the subjects use social media accounts to post messages about needing liver and kidney donors along with contact phone numbers. When they find a buyer, the subjects set a price (about 1.2 billion VND for 1 kidney), the entire cost of transplant surgery and testing costs for the seller are the responsibility of the buyer.

Once the sellers are found, the people in the network take them to hospitals for health checks, assessments, and testing of specific indicators (HLA compatibility index) for transplants. After selecting a pair of buyers and sellers with compatible HLA indexes to ensure the conditions for transplants, the subjects guide the sellers to complete local legal documents and complete medical procedures for the hospital to perform organ transplants.

According to information from the Police Department, normally people in the ring pay the seller about 450-550 million VND for 1 kidney (depending on the health condition and blood type of the seller).

Right before the transplant, the buyer must transfer the agreed amount to the brokers. Upon receiving the money, these people will pay the seller or the seller's relatives, minus the screening costs as well as the post-surgery costs for the seller, the remaining amount of about 450-500 million VND will be shared by the subjects.

To avoid detection by the authorities, people involved in the kidney and liver trafficking ring frequently change their residences, mainly using social networks to conduct transactions in the purchase and sale of human body parts. At the same time, each person in the group is assigned to take charge of each segment, preventing buyers and sellers from meeting before the transplant.

Authorities determined that from the beginning of 2024 until now, Pham Van Hung and his accomplices have brokered the sale of kidneys for about 25-30 successful transplants at major hospitals in Hanoi.

Currently, the Criminal Police Department is continuing to coordinate and direct the Investigation Police Agency - Hanoi Police to verify, investigate, collect documents, consolidate evidence to prove the criminal acts of those in the group, and at the same time expand the investigation to clarify all criminal acts of those involved to strictly handle them according to the law.

Linh Anh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/bat-giu-duong-day-mua-ban-than-gan-nhan-phi-moi-gioi-450-550-trieu-dong-102250920100101561.htm