Police arrest doctor behind 300 illegal organ transplants in Pakistan

Eight members of an organ trafficking ring in northeast Pakistan have been arrested.

According to the Evening Standard, the alleged leader, Fawad Mukhtar, is accused of extracting kidneys from over 300 people and transplanting them into wealthy clients.

The gang operated across eastern Punjab province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, carrying out transplants in private homes, often without the patients' knowledge.

The kidneys were sold for up to 10 million rupees (approx. $120,000) each, according to authorities.

At least three people are reported to have died as a result of having their organs harvested by the gang.

The punishment for the commercial trade of human organs, which was made illegal in Pakistan in 2010, includes a decade-long jail term and huge fines in the hope that this will stop sales to overseas clients by exploitative doctors, middlemen, recipients and donors.