Three arrested for running alleged organ trafficking ring

A months-long uncover organ trafficking probe ended Tuesday with the arrest of three Israelis on suspicion of running a network that exploited poverty-stricken Israelis, offering to sell their kidneys in exchange for tens of thousands of shekels.

According to the Israel Police, the investigation uncovered a ring that had already carried out multiple such transactions.

The network was led by a doctor from the center of the country. After the arrest of the three-man ring, police raids on their homes uncovered further evidence of their activities, police said.

Surgeries to remove sellers’ kidneys allegedly took place in private clinics in Turkey.

The network earned a huge margin on each organ sold, as recipients paid hundreds of thousands of dollars per kidney.

The three suspects will be brought for a remand hearing before the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.