Major Organ Trafficking Racket Operating as Medical Tourism Company Busted in Kerala
The Enforcement Directorate has dismantled an organ trafficking racket in Kerala that used a medical tourism front to conduct illegal transplants. By exploiting financially vulnerable donors and forging official medical documents, the syndicate generated significant illicit profits between 2021 and 2026.
Highlights
- •The ED uncovered an organ trafficking racket operating under the facade of Kallatharas Medical Tourism Pvt Ltd.
- •The syndicate targeted financially distressed donors with small payouts while charging recipients massive sums for illegal transplants.
- •Investigators seized forged documents, including fake altruism certificates and ID proofs, used to facilitate illicit surgeries.
- •Freezing orders have been issued on bank accounts of intermediaries, with multiple arrests made by the Kerala Police.
An extensive organ trafficking racket operating out of Kerala has been dismantled following a targeted investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The illicit syndicate reportedly functioned under the guise of a legitimate medical tourism agency to exploit vulnerable individuals and bypass regulatory oversight for illegal transplant surgeries.
Recent enforcement actions involved raids across nine locations throughout Kerala, including various hospitals linked to the operations. These measures were initiated after the ED registered a formal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), relying on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) previously filed by the Kerala Police.
Investigation into Organ Trafficking Syndicate
According to findings, the network was spearheaded by Muhammed Najeeb K and his associate Rasheeda A A. Operating through their front entity, Kallatharas Medical Tourism Pvt Ltd, the group allegedly facilitated illegal organ transplants between 2021 and 2026. Investigators discovered that the syndicate utilized a network of agents to identify and target financially distressed donors, promising them payments ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, while demanding exorbitant sums—often between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 35 lakh—from recipients.
The scale of the organ trafficking racket involved sophisticated forgery techniques to legitimize their illegal activities. Documents such as altruism certificates, recommendation letters from public figures, Aadhaar cards, and ration cards were falsified to manipulate the medical approval process. Evidence suggests these documents were manufactured at Sun Communications DTP Centre and Sign HD Digital Studio located in Pallikkara, Ernakulam. Following the creation of these fraudulent records, illicit transplant procedures were conducted at prominent hospitals within the region.
Asset Seizure and Legal Consequences
During the course of these operations, the ED successfully seized substantial evidence, including forged documents, records pertaining to transplant surgeries, and digital data concerning financial transactions. The agency is currently working to identify the ultimate beneficiaries of this organ trafficking racket and has begun tracing immovable assets acquired through the proceeds of these crimes.
To curb further financial activity associated with the group, authorities have issued freezing orders against the bank accounts of various agents and intermediaries involved. The Kerala Police have already registered six distinct cases in relation to the syndicate. Key individuals, including the alleged primary mastermind Muhammed Najeeb, who was apprehended in Uttar Pradesh last month, remain under police custody as the investigation deepens.
