JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli police arrested six men from northern Israel accused of being involved in an organ trafficking ring.
The suspects, including a military brigadier general and two attorneys, were arrested Wednesday, according to reports. The ring allegedly identified potential organ donors through advertisements promising up to $100,000 in exchange for their kidneys. Some were reportedly paid $10,000 and others nothing at all. The transplants took place in Ecuador, Azerbaijan and the Philippines, under substandard medical supervision. Some of the donors are still suffering from medical complications.
Israel outlawed providing organ donors with financial rewards in 2008; all organ transplants are supposed to be carried out through the National Transplant and Organ Donation Center. Israel has been cited as one of the world’s trouble spots when it comes to the illegal organ trade.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
