The authorities in Pakistan announced on Monday the dismantling of a criminal gang that had been conducting hundreds of illegal surgical operations to extract kidneys and sell them to wealthy individuals.
The American news network CNN quoted the Chief Minister of the Punjab province, Mohsin Nawaz, as saying that the gang’s leader, known as “Doctor Fuad,” is accused of performing 328 surgical operations on individuals to illegally remove their kidneys.
He added that the gang sold these kidneys to wealthy clients for up to 10 million Pakistani Rupees (34,000 dollars) for each kidney.
Nawaz explained that “Doctor Fuad” received assistance during the surgical operations from an unnamed car mechanic who was responsible for administering anesthesia. The gang lured patients from hospitals and conducted the surgeries in discreet locations in Lahore and Kashmir.
Nawaz pointed out, “They were able to do this in Kashmir, where there was a lack of kidney transplant laws, making it easy to perform the operations there.”
Three deaths related to these surgeries have been confirmed so far, according to the same official, while local authorities continue their investigative procedures.