The Tunisian Ministry of Interior has unveiled a major revelation, exposing an international criminal network actively involved in human organ trafficking. The authorities have detained three individuals in connection with this nefarious activity, all of whom have confessed to their involvement in the illicit trade.
These criminals were engaged in recruiting Tunisians eager to sell their transplantable organs, leveraging various social media platforms and intermediaries, both domestically and abroad. The suspects were involved in the whole process, from recruiting donors, facilitating medical tests and negotiations, to eventually planning their transportation abroad for the procedures.
In an effort to unravel this international criminal network, a specialized security unit focusing on terrorism, organized crime, and threats to national security, tracked information exchanges on social media platforms, specifically Facebook. The unit discovered that the conversations revolved around brokerage offers and selling human organs for significant amounts of money.
This case was taken very seriously and was promptly coordinated with the Tunisian Public Prosecutor’s Office. A series of field and technical investigations were conducted, leading to the identification of one of the active members of this network. This individual served as a crucial link between Tunisian and foreign parties, responsible for negotiating financial transactions and commission fees.
For years, Tunisia has been proactive in fighting human trafficking, establishing a constitutional body dedicated to this cause. The body conducts awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers and legal violations associated with human organ trade. It also emphasizes the close connection between human trafficking and illegal immigration waves.
In 2016, Tunisia ratified a law to prevent and combat human trafficking, confirming that organ transplantation in the country is conducted voluntarily and free of charge, ensuring the anonymity between donors and recipients.
The Head of the Tunisian Anti-Human Trafficking Authority, Rawda Labidi, in a media statement, highlighted that despite fluctuations in numbers from year to year, human trafficking, including organ trade, remains a critical issue. In 2022, reported cases in Tunisia decreased to around 766, down from an estimated 1100 cases in 2021, with victims being almost equally Tunisian nationals and foreigners.
Labidi pointed out that key factors contributing to human trafficking include illegal immigration, the unlawful presence of many people across different countries, poverty, and the lure of substantial monetary incentives offered by these criminal networks.
It is worth noting that the Tunisian authorities had previously uncovered another international human organ trade network in July, primarily dealing in kidneys, operating between Tunisia and Turkey, with its base in Turkey. Six suspects were arrested in this operation, shedding light on the sophisticated methods these networks employ, using social media to lure victims and subsequently arranging for their travel and surgeries in exchange for amounts ranging between 25,000 and 30,000 Tunisian Dinars per person (approximately 8,000 to 10,000 US Dollars).
