Twenty-six alleged organ trafficking gang members detained in Turkey

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

Eight people have been arrested across Turkey on allegations of human organ trafficking, according to police.

Officers apprehended 26 suspects as part of an Istanbul-based operation conducted at different points in seven provinces following a year of intelligence-gathering.

The organ trading gang was allegedly selling kidneys and livers that they bought online for 20,000 Turkish Liras ($10,000) for a price of 40,000 liras to patients. The gang members were reaching people who wanted to sell their organs online, Anadolu Agency reported.

The prosecutor released 12 of the 26 people detained after obtaining their testimonies, while eight of the remaining 14 suspects were sent to court with a request for their arrest. While four of those sent to court will be subjected to probation, two were released pending trial.

The gang was allegedly using code names while talking on the phone in order to avoid police surveillance. Members of the crime ring were reportedly using the word “partridge” for the organ donors and “car” for the organ recipients.

The gang also allegedly circumvented ethical guidelines regulating the donation of organs by non-family members via fake identity cards.