Organ trafficking

Organ trafficking involves removing a part of the body, commonly a kidney, to sell for profit.

It is a surgical procedure that removes organs or tissues for reuse, typically for organ transplantation.

Other organs that can be removed are a lobe of the liver or a cornea (the eyes.) Organ traffickers sometimes forcibly remove organs without consent or through coercing you with false promises of a large payment. Organ trafficking can affect people of all genders and various ages.

The procedure could cost you your life.

Even if the seller agrees, believing it is a seemingly consensual agreement and the economic option of a last resort, this is still an exploitative arrangement.

Often the seller is not told the full truth of the arrangement.

The following sections contain further information about the risk of scams and long term health problems.

People may hear through an acquaintance or a member of their community that selling an organ is an easy way to make money.

Unfortunately, this person is likely to be part of the Organ Trafficking network.

Gangs and brokers involved with organ trafficking exchange information about people. Their targets are people they know are experiencing difficulties, as they will likely be more open to persuasion. They often pay people from the target’s own community to convince them to sell an organ.

Brokers will try and convince the potential seller to go through with the procedure after a period of persistent solicitation. Hiba, a woman who was convinced to sell her kidney, describes how they are relentless in their pursuit.

They made efforts try to reassure Hiba the process is painless without any health repercussions.

Brokers often tell lies about the surgery to manipulate people into agreement. People who have sold their organs shared the lies they were told. You can read the examples of these lies at the bottom of this page.

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The operations that organ sellers have are extremely dangerous procedures. Some organ sellers die during surgery.

Pre-Operative Care

Prior to agreeing to sell an organ, it’s imperative to be screened fully for suitability. This includes tissue and blood tests, x-rays and scans to determine your suitability to donate and to be matched with a recipient. It is important that these pre-operative tests ensure the person is fit for surgery. This should include a thorough anaesthetic pre-assessment and access to the person’s respiratory history, to ensure the person is well enough to be under anaesthetic during the procedure.

Administering anaesthetic to a person with undetected, underlying health problems can put the individual at risk of serious health complications.

If there is an undiagnosed cancer or an infection like Hepatitis, there could also be a risk to the recipient.

This is an important part of being prepared for surgery. If this does not happen your health could be at risk, and you could experience complications.

Risky medical procedure

Many organ sellers say they were compelled to consider risky medical procedures, carried out with little or no oversight, despite having no possibility of support or justice  should they be subject to any harm, medical or otherwise.

Following the procedure, the health of the organ seller is not a priority for the brokers.

Sellers rarely receive sufficient aftercare following surgery.

This is a quote from a BBC News interview with an organ broker, who confirmed there is little concern for the seller following the procedure.

Brokers often provide accommodation after surgery. The main reason is not aftercare, but to keep the seller in a controlled space to limit the risk of police attention and/or to further exploit sellers for profit.

Organ sellers have reported lack of care received following surgery.

Medical care post-surgery is often unavailable for sellers, increasing risks of long-term problems, even death. Without correct aftercare, the wound can become infected, which can lead to more serious, long term health complications. Sellers usually have to pay for their own medical care post-surgery, causing more financial problems.

Even if an organ seller recovers in the short term, the effect on long term health can be far more damaging. Removing an organ without proper medical supervision and aftercare can take years off the seller’s life.

Selling an organ can have serious short-term and long-term health implications.

Some people may be willing to take the risk to their health for the financial prospect. However, the sale rarely leads to long-term economic benefit as sellers often experience such a decline in health, they are unable to work again.

If you are deciding whether to go through with this procedure, please consider the risks and detrimental impact it could have on your future.

Payment is not guaranteed.

In most reported cases, the sellers experienced the following:

The seller may receive full payment. However, many have reported that they spent the money within a few months, which meant they had to return to work. However, most sellers are unable to sustain or find employment following the surgery due to ill health, causing new financial burdens.

Even if payment is received, the seller risks this information being shared with criminal networks, which can put them in danger. A market vendor in Cairo recounted a story of a Sudanese woman who was murdered by a group of men he described as ‘the mafia’:

“I don’t know if this woman was promised anything for her kidney, but days after she had the operation some people came into her house took all her money and killed her…. This mafia, they don’t care what happens to you after they have your kidney.” – Market Seller.

Sellers report that whilst they were paid the full amount, the money was stolen from them shortly after the procedure. Such thefts are likely to occur as a result of information about the seller being shared within criminal networks. Such robberies are likely to be set up by the broker themselves, to reclaim the money paid to the seller.

The large sum of money offered for an organ may seem a solution to financial difficulties. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true and can often cause worse problems in the future.

Many people who changed their mind about the procedure endured threats and intimidation from brokers.

When asked about this in an interview, a broker replied

“They cannot change their mind. This is not an option. Once they agree, it is done.”

Brokers are motivated by financial gain. They are unscrupulous and will resort to threats, violence and whatever it takes to get what they want.

When considering such an offer be aware of the dangerous world you are entering into, from which there is rarely an easy exit route.

29 year old Mohamed was homeless when offered $10,000 for his kidney. Shortly after the operation, the money he was paid was stolen from him. He was left with nothing.

27-year-old Omar was living in Khartoum when he was offered work in Cairo, an offer which transpired to be false. Omar was forced to re-pay the middle-man the supposed ‘high cost’ involved in arranging his travel documents and passport. After threats and violence, the gang told Omar he could sell them his kidney to repay the debt.

Following the procedure, Omar was paid and taken to an apartment for recovery. However, when he went to sleep, the gang took everything: his money, passport, and the papers from the operation.

“I feel too much shame; I cannot go back home now. I am finding it difficult to work.” – Omar

Hiba, a single mother with two children, was relentlessly pursued for months by brokers, until she eventually relented and “agreed” to sell her kidney.

When Hiba arrived at the clinic, one of the medical staff informed Hiba she would receive E£40,000 [about $2,500] significantly less than the $40,000 that she had been promised. Hiba did not accept this and refused to go through with the procedure. However, she was prevented from leaving the hospital.

The doctor gave Hiba anaesthetic, and the kidney was removed. The broker gave her E£40,000 [about $2,500] and asked her to leave. Hiba spent most of the money staying at a hotel and never told anyone what happened.

Dawitt was 16 years old when an acquaintance suggested he sell a kidney in Cairo. He was offered $5,000 for the surgery and would use the money to fund onward travel to Europe.

After surgery, Dawitt was taken to an apartment for recovery and received an envelope with $2,000. The broker promised to pay the remaining $3,000 once he had recovered from the surgery. Instead, the broker paid a smuggler, who would facilitate Dawitt’s journey to Italy. The broker connected Dawitt to the smuggler with no assurances as to when, or if, the boat would depart.

When Dawitt recovered and felt strong enough to make the journey, the broker and the smuggler disappeared. Dawitt was left with nothing.