Members of the transnational criminal ring specializing on human organs trafficking were detained at an airport in Kyiv in a joint raid by the Security Service of Ukraine and National Police, according to the SBU website.
During an investigation, the law enforcers revealed perpetrators from Ukraine and several other countries were looking for people in dire financial need and offered them to sell their kidney for a certain reward.
To provide a cover-up for their illegal activities, the masterminds behind the scheme have created a commercial structure, which allegedly provided ”medical tourism” services.
Donors were paid some $13,000 to $15,000, while mediators received from$80,000 to $100,000 from foreign recipients.
After obtaining consent from donors, the perpetrators would transport them abroad to undertake a corresponding surgery.
According to the security services, four to five Ukrainians were trafficked each month.
