China breaks up human organ trafficking ring, arrests nearly 150 suspects
This network lures people to sell organs over the internet. Buying organs at a low price but reselling them to patients at exorbitant prices.
Chinese police have just busted a major human organ trafficking ring, arresting 137 suspects and rescuing 127 organ sellers.
Xinhua News AgencyThe operation was carried out in coordination with 18 provincial police departments since late July, the Ministry of Public Security said on August 4. The criminal network lured people to sell organs over the Internet. They bought organs at cheap prices but sold them to patients at exorbitant prices.
According to the police, the organizers of this activity often use the internet to lure sellers to make huge profits from organ trafficking transactions. This trade endangers the health of the sellers and creates a financial burden for the buyers.
TelegraphMost patients go to China, India or Pakistan to find organs for surgery. They pay up to $200,000 for a kidney bought on the black market, while organ traffickers pay sellers less than $5,000.
Long scars on the bodies of organ sellers after having a kidney removed (photo: Guardian)
Statistics from the Chinese Ministry of Health show that about 1.5 million people in the country need new organ transplants, but each year only about 10,000 are performed due to a lack of donors. This situation has led to the formation of a "black market" for human organs.
According to the World Health Organization, kidneys account for 75% of the global organ trade. In 2010, there were 106,879 organ transplants in 95 member countries, both legal and illegal.
There are many ads on Chinese websites like: “Sell a kidney to buy an iPad!” The poster says he will pay about $4,000 for a kidney and the kidney removal will take place within 10 days.
In April 2012, Chinese police arrested a group of five people who bought a kidney for $3,000 from a minor who needed money to buy an iPhone or iPad.
In early 2007, the Chinese government announced its first national regulations on human organ transplantation, prohibiting organizations and individuals from trafficking in organs in any form.
China’s 2011 amendment to the Criminal Law introduced three articles on crimes related to organ trafficking, under which those convicted of organizing human organ trafficking could face prison terms of more than five years and heavy fines. Those convicted of “forcibly donating or removing organs from others or minors” could face sentences equivalent to murder.
China's Ministry of Health says it is trying to change the situation in the next three to five years by building a reliable organ donation system and encouraging people to donate. A pilot network has been set up in 16 of China's 31 provinces since 2010, and 241 organ donations have been completed, benefiting nearly 700 patients.
However, public opinion is still concerned about this problem. A recent survey conducted with 1,012 people in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, southern China, showed that while 79% think organ donation is a noble act, up to 81% are concerned that organ donation could lead to illegal organ trafficking./.
According to VOV online-M
