Economic hardships force poor families to sell kidneys, racket busted

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) uncovered a massive human organ trafficking racket operating at a private hospital in Borella deceiving people from poor families during the ongoing economic crisis.

The CCD launched investigations into the racket after complaints were lodged by five persons including a woman to the Borella Police Station in connection with the non-payment after selling kidneys at a leading hospital in Borella. The kidneys had been sold by people belonging to poor families who were suffering to make ends especially during the ongoing economic crisis.

Accordingly, the police arrested a suspect involved in the racket after he surrendered himself at the Colombo Crime Division on Monday evening.

The arrested suspect is a 41-year-old resident of Kajimawatta, Colombo 15,

He was remanded till 13 December by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. The Magistrate also ordered a travel ban to be imposed on six directors of the private hospital.

It has been revealed that this suspect has acted as a broker by coordinating between the person who sold the kidney and the receiving party.

In addition, apart from the brokerage fees, the suspect has also defrauded a part of the money given by the management of the hospital to those who sold the kidney.

Sources said that the victims who complained about the racket were presented before a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) and it was revealed that one of those people's kidneys had been removed.

They were promised a large amount of money for donating the kidneys, but they claimed that they have not received the money.

Meanwhile, it was reported that a kidney removed from a poor person has been transplanted to a foreigner.

Following the uncovering of the racket, the Health Ministry has appointed a seven-member committee to investigate the incident and has taken steps to temporarily suspend organ transplants at the concerned private hospital. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)