Israeli arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of organ trafficking

Suspect allegedly sold body parts on black market, conducted illegal transplants, and falsified documents

By ToI Staff 23 November 2016, 5:42 pm

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Illustrative: Doctors performing an organ transplant. (Flash90)

An Israeli was arrested in Cyprus on Tuesday on suspicion of organ trafficking, Israel Radio reported.

The man, 77, is wanted in Israel for selling organs, conducting illegal organ transplants, and falsifying documents, the radio said. He was detained in the Cypriot city of Larnaca.

The man was arrested after an international warrant was issued for his arrest earlier this year. The Cypriot police have requested from Cypriot legal authorities to extend his detainment.

In 2014, Uzi Shmueli, an Israeli citizen and former professional soccer player suspected of organ trafficking, was arrested in Cyprus for using a fake passport.

Shmueli allegedly headed a crime ring that lured struggling young Israeli women, mostly from the south of the country, to Turkey and paid them NIS 20,000 (some $5,750) for their kidneys.

Past reports indicated Israeli patients would pay up to $20,000 for a black market kidney, though it is not clear if Israelis were the main recipients of either Shmueli or the man detained on Tuesday.