Iraqi given bought kidney
2003-12-04 20:40
Rio de Janeiro - A Brazilian told Globo News on Thursday how, driven by dire financial straits, he jumped at the chance to have his kidney removed and sold out of a private clinic in Durban for $13 000 (about R80 300).
His face electronically blurred and his voice disguised, the man from Recife, in the country's largely poor northeast, showed network cameras his scar.
This was 48 hours after the arrest in Recife of 11 people - nine Brazilians and two Israelis - accused of ties to an international organs-trafficking operation and the arrest in Durban of two more Israelis on the same suspicions.
The man said he had had his surgery in November 2002 and claimed his kidney was transplanted into an Iraqi. He said he received his payment only once back in his country.
Police estimated about 30 organs were sold under the scheme.
The 11 arrests on Tuesday were part of a secret nine-month operation, according to Recife police spokesperson Manoel Caetano.
Federal police said more people could be charged in the coming days, noting that authorities would remain in contact with Interpol and police in Durban.
Brazilian law forbids the selling of organs, even with the donor's consent.
It allows for organ donation only after death, and with the consent of family members.
In exceptional cases, organ donation involving a living donor is permitted in Brazil, but generally only between family members.