NEW DELHI, Sept 21 (Bernama) – Malaysia is among several countries in the radar of the Bangladeshi police who are on the trail of an international syndicate linked to illegal kidney trade across several Southeast Asian countries.
Investigators have identified a reputed international hospital with branches in key regions and capitals, including a hospital in Selangor, Malaysia.
Initial investigations have revealed that donors from remote villages in Bangladesh were flown to the regions to sell their kidneys.
Eight people have been arrested in connection with luring the poor illiterate victims overseas for that purpose.
"We have information this (international) hospital has branches in India, Malaysia and Indonesia.
"As such, we have launched a massive crackdown on the illegal kidney trade spanning across several Southeast Asian countries."An agency in Dhaka is involved in the illegal kidney transplant. Many poor, illiterate and people with high borrowings (debts) were taken abroad where the kidney transplant is done.
"It is possible they have visited these countries," Mozammel Haque, Joypurhat Superintendent of Police told Bernama by phone today.
He said each victim was paid between US$2,000 (RM6,000) and US$3,000 (RM9,000) for a kidney, but was unsure how much the organ was priced in the black market.
So far, at least seven cases of illegal sale of kidney have surfaced in Joypurhat – located in northern Bangladesh – where largely impoverished communities survive on seasonal agricultural crops.
Kidney transplant is illegal in Bangladesh.
Haque said numerous documents related to the unlawful trade were seized from the suspects, adding that more details were expected to be unearthed.
"It is a complex investigation, we are hoping to identify more suspects involved in the racket," he said.
Bangladesh media reported that at least 100 people had fallen prey to the international syndicate, which also involved medical experts.
Originally published by Bernama.
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