CAIRO: Syrian authorities arrested an 11-member organ trafficking ring in northern Aleppo, allegedly led by a 26-year-old Egyptian woman named Fadia, Syria-based daily independent Al-Watan reported Monday.
The group is allegedly responsible for trafficking the kidneys of about 150 Syrians over the past year — some of whom are in critical condition, the report added.
Fadia, with the help of her husband, reportedly coordinated transactions through Syrians living in Cairo. Any Syrian willing to travel to Cairo and sell their kidney would allegedly receive approximately LE 37,000 in compensation.
The patients were mainly from Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
According to investigations, donors signed a written consent prior to transplant surgery which indicated that he or she donated his or her kidney at a private hospital in Cairo.
Fadia and her husband have not yet been detained. Syrian authorities informed Interpol of the charges against them and have advised them to take the necessary legal measures.
In Egypt, selling organs is illegal. An organ transplant procedure can only be carried out if a person voluntarily donates his or her organ to a patient.
