The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at nine locations in Kerala related to an illegal organ trafficking scheme. Hospital records were seized, and bank accounts of suspects tied to a medical tourism company were frozen. The searches were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, focusing on a large-scale illegal organ trafficking network in Kerala, including unauthorized transplant procedures in Ernakulam hospitals.
Freezing orders were issued for the bank accounts of agents and intermediaries involved in facilitating the illegal organ trade. The ED is analyzing the bank account details of the accused and their associated entities to track the flow and layering of the Proceeds of Crime. The investigation stemmed from FIRs filed by the Kerala Police, revealing a complex criminal syndicate engaged in forgery, cheating, conspiracy, and illegal organ trafficking under the guise of legitimate organ donation and medical tourism.
Initial findings suggest that Muhammed Najeeb K and Rasheeda A.A., through their company Kallatharas Medical Tourism Pvt Ltd, orchestrated the racket between 2021 and 2026. They targeted financially distressed donors via agents, offering payments of Rs 5-15 lakh, while charging recipients Rs 20-35 lakh or more. The accused forged various documents, including police certificates, recommendation letters, Aadhaar cards, and ration cards, executed at specific centers in Ernakulam.
The ED conducted targeted searches to trace the Proceeds of Crime, identify beneficiaries, and recover incriminating records, digital evidence, and financial transactions linked to the illegal organ trade. During the searches, incriminating records, forged documents, and detailed information on organ transplantation surgeries were seized. Additionally, details of properties owned by the accused and their associates were collected to determine assets acquired from the proceeds of crime.
