A large international group that is involved with organ trafficking has been busted by Egypt authorities.
The group is said to consist of university professors and doctors from Egypt and other Arab countries, who allegedly buy organs from poor Egyptians and sell them to customers from other countries.
According to a statement issued by the Egypt Administrative Control Authority, among the 25 detainees captured were also intermediaries and brokers. The Authority which tracks corruption cases in the country stated that the group was taking advantage of some of the citizens’ difficult economic conditions to benefit themselves, as they sell the organs for large sums of money.
Based on a report released by the World Health Organization in 2010, Egypt has been ranked as one of the top five countries in illegal organ trade. The report prompted the Egypts’ parliament to pass a law that banned commercial trade in organs as well as transplants between Egyptians and foreigners, except in cases of husband and wife.
Despite the presence of the law, the United Nations has issued reports saying that Illegal organs trade is still present in Egypt, with kidney and liver organs being the most familiar in the illegal trade.
