Each time he arranges a voluntary kidney sale, the "boss" earns a profit of 40-100 million VND.

Implementing the direction of the Director of Hanoi City Police (April 23, 2018) on verifying and investigating a suspected ring of buying and selling human tissues and body parts (kidneys), the Criminal Police Department - City Police quickly deployed forces to coordinate with professional units to clarify the largest kidney brokerage ring ever.

The subjects of the case. Photo: Provided by the police

The ringleader is Tran Van Phuong (born in 1989, from Duong Duc commune, Lang Giang district, Bac Giang province). The kidney trading activities of this ring are extremely sophisticated and professional, only those who want to sell and buy kidneys can contact Phuong. Phuong's accomplices include Le Thuy Linh (born in 1996, in Phu Giao district, Binh Duong); Hoang Ngoc Tien (born in 1988, in Dong Ha district, Quang Tri); Phan Van Hung (born in 1991, in Yen Thanh district, Nghe An); Pham Xuan Thinh (born in 1990, in Nam Sach district, Hai Duong) and Nguyen Van My (born in 1993, in Duc Co district, Gia Lai).

Kidney trafficking ring worth over 300 million VND busted

Seeing that many people wanted to buy and sell kidneys for transplant, Tran Van Phuong used the Facebook account "Tran Bui" to post about buying and selling kidneys. When meeting people who wanted to buy and sell kidneys, Phuong asked the kidney seller to meet the kidney buyer and then together make a voluntary kidney donation application for each other as a formality, but in essence, it was a kidney buying and selling transaction at Viet Duc Hospital. During the period from January to September 2018, Phuong completed 3 kidney buying and selling transactions.

Around January 2018, because he needed money for work, Mr. Tien met Phuong to sell a kidney for 250 million VND/kidney. After the transaction was completed, Phuong took Mr. Tien to the same address at No. 43, Lane 112/15, Dinh Cong Thuong, Dinh Cong Ward, Hoang Mai District to wait for a buyer. In March 2018, through the website, Phuong learned that Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Xuan (born in 1975, in Hai Duong City, Hai Duong Province) needed to buy a kidney for 320 million VND/kidney for transplantation.

On April 2, 2018, Ms. Xuan had Tien’s kidney transplant at Viet Duc Hospital. In this case, Phuong received the difference of 70 million VND from the sale of Mr. Tien’s kidney. This amount of money was spent by the subject.

In June 2018, Mr. Luong Duc Vien (born in 1990, residing in Hoa Lac commune, Huu Lung district, Lang Son province) met Phuong to broker the sale of a kidney for 260 million VND. One month later, Phuong learned that Mr. Do Du Minh (born in 1978, residing in Chuong My, Hanoi) was looking to buy a kidney for transplant at 360 million VND/kidney. On September 26, Mr. Minh received Mr. Vien's kidney transplant at Viet Duc hospital. In this brokerage deal, Phuong earned a difference of 100 million VND.

Also during this time, Mr. Vi Thien Doan (born in 1993, residing in Loc Binh district, Lang Son province) contacted Phuong to sell a kidney for 320 million VND/kidney. In early August, Phuong learned that Mr. Do Hoang Nam (born in 1975, residing in Dong Anh district, Hanoi) was in need of buying a kidney for 360 million VND/kidney for transplantation. On September 10, Mr. Nam received a kidney transplant from Mr. Doan at Viet Duc hospital. Phuong benefited from the kidney sale and spent it all.

The "boss" of the kidney selling ring once went to Cambodia to sell a kidney for 150 million VND.

According to the commander of the Criminal Police Department - Hanoi City Police, Phuong once sold a kidney in Cambodia for 150 million VND, so he understood very well the testing process and documents to deceive the authorities.

Subject Phuong once sold a kidney in Cambodia for 150 million VND.

In just a short period of time, Phuong has gathered many people to help find kidney sellers and buyers for transactions. In addition to going on Facebook to find kidney sellers and buyers, Phuong often hangs around hospital gates and dialysis areas to grasp the needs and people who need to buy and sell kidneys in order to broker kidney buying and selling.

In the above case, in addition to the successful buying and selling cases, Phuong also organized for Hung and Tien to take them for testing. Phuong paid Tien and Hung 5 million VND each after each successful purchase.

Before joining Phuong in this ring, Le Thuy Linh had also sold a kidney. Linh paired up with Phuong and supported the subject when taking the kidney sellers and buyers to the hospital for examination and testing. In addition, Linh also took care of the food and accommodation at house number 43, lane 112/15 Dinh Cong Thuong, Dinh Cong ward, Hoang Mai district for Thinh and My while they waited to sell their kidneys.

An officer from the Criminal Police Department of Hanoi City Police recommends: The act of buying, selling, or appropriating human tissues or body parts is strictly prohibited. Therefore, for those who are sick and need a kidney for transplant, they should not go through brokers or intermediaries through social networking sites and hospital portals. They should meet directly with doctors at reputable hospitals for advice and referrals to kidney donors. The kidney sellers in this case are all in difficult circumstances and need money to make ends meet, but that does not mean they are breaking the law.

Regarding this case, on October 15, the Criminal Police Department - Hanoi City Police initiated a case, prosecuted the accused, and executed an order to temporarily detain Tran Van Phuong (born in 1989, residing in Duong Duc commune, Lang Giang, Bac Giang) for the act of "Buying and selling human tissues and body parts".

Currently, the Criminal Police Department - Hanoi City Police is urgently consolidating documents and strictly handling the subjects before the law./.