Two suspects detained in human body parts trafficking ring

Truong Thi Khuyen and Tran Van Hiep. (Source: An ninh Thu do Newspaper)

This line is Truong Thi Khuyen (born in 1966, in Bac Giang) and Tran Van Hiep (born in 1971, in Hanoi) to investigate the act of "Buying, selling, appropriating human tissues or body parts" according to Article 154 of the Penal Code.

According to the Criminal Police Department, Tran Van Hiep (residing in Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District) often sought out brokers to buy and sell human body parts, especially livers. Hiep was assisted by Truong Thi Khuyen and several other individuals. Khuyen used to live as husband and wife with a man named NVB (who had sold his kidney in Hanoi), and was the one who introduced many liver and kidney sellers to Hiep.

Liver buyers have to pay Hiep about 1.2 billion VND, while liver sellers are only paid 450 million VND. To find customers, Hiep often hangs around major hospitals in Hanoi. When he finds someone who wants to sell a liver, Hiep will take them to the hospital to do tests and evaluate the condition of the liver.

In addition to going directly to hospitals, Hiep also joined Facebook groups such as "Vietnam Kidney Donation and Transplantation Association", "Kidney Transplant Association"... to post information related to kidney trading. When he found a source of buyers and sellers, Hiep would plan to arrange pick-up and drop-off.

Specifically, around January 2021, due to difficult family circumstances and a debt of 70 million VND, Q in Bac Giang agreed to sell his kidney and was introduced to a broker named Khuyen. Khuyen then continued to introduce Q to Hiep and was offered a liver for 450 million VND. However, after the successful liver transplant for Mr. NTP (from Hung Yen province), Q's health was weak due to cirrhosis F4 and hepatitis C...

In the case of C selling a kidney in Hanoi due to business losses and owing many people about 400 million VND, when he met Hiep, he was quoted the price of 1 kidney for 250 million VND, C agreed to sell it to Ms. HTH (from Quang Ninh province). Next, Hiep brokered the sale of T's kidney in Thai Nguyen province to the buyer P.D.N.

According to the investigation of the Criminal Police Department, the total cost of a kidney transplant is 700 million VND/case; a liver transplant costs from 1.2 billion VND to 1.5 billion VND/case. Of which, Hiep benefits from the difference of 100 million VND to 200 million VND/transplantee; Khuyen is paid from 20 to 30 million VND by Hiep.

On August 3, 2022, Hiep led 3 women to Giai Phong Street (Hanoi) and was caught red-handed by the police. At the police station, these people confessed to going with Hiep to have a kidney test...

The case file has been transferred to Hanoi City Police for further investigation.

According to VNA