In a shocking revelation, Pakistani authorities have cracked down on an organ trafficking operation led by a notorious doctor, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals. The gang, under the alleged leadership of “Dr. Fawad,” stands accused of illicitly extracting kidneys from hundreds of patients, primarily to meet the demands of wealthy transplant recipients. Dr. Fawad purportedly conducted 328 of these surgeries, with prices soaring as high as $34,000 per kidney.

According to Mohsin Naqvi, the Chief Minister of Punjab province, the organ trafficking operation also involved the participation of an unidentified car mechanic who administered anesthesia during these illegal procedures.

The modus operandi of the gang involved enticing patients away from hospitals to perform clandestine kidney removal surgeries, often carried out in Lahore or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The absence of kidney transplant legislation in PoK facilitated these covert operations.

While three deaths have been confirmed in connection with the illicit surgeries, authorities are still in the process of verifying additional cases. Chief Minister Naqvi expressed concern that more undocumented surgeries may have taken place, as the confirmed number is just the tip of the iceberg.

Remarkably, some victims of this organ trafficking ring were completely unaware that their kidneys had been removed. The police initiated their investigation after a victim approached them, revealing that he had been persuaded by one of the gang members to seek private medical treatment. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed the illicit removal of his kidney, leading to a two-month-long investigation that resulted in the arrest of the culprits.