Several suspects involved in a kidney organ trafficking ring in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan, have been arrested, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported.
In a statement, the DOJ also said nine victims were rescued during the operation.
The DOJ and operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police, and local social workers, conducted the rescue operation on July 11.
“During the operation, the perpetrators were apprehended while attempting to deliver payments to one of the victims,” the DOJ said.
“They were arrested for their involvement in harboring, and maintaining the victims for organ trafficking purposes,” it added. The kidneys of four rescued victims had already been extracted and sold.
The DOJ said the perpetrators were brought to the NBI office for proper booking, fingerprinting, and photographing. The rescued victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
