Kochi, 10 May (H.S.):The Kerala Police have arrested the alleged mastermind behind a major organ trafficking racket that operated under the guise of organ donation and medical tourism, officials said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Najeeb, a native of Kasaragod who had been absconding for several days, was arrested by the Ernakulam Rural Police from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh following an extensive manhunt. Police said he will be brought to Kochi for detailed interrogation, particularly regarding the racket’s suspected foreign transactions and interstate network.

Investigators believe the syndicate, which allegedly operated mainly from Ernakulam district, had links extending to several parts of Kerala, including Kasaragod, Kollam, and rural Thiruvananthapuram. Police suspect that Najeeb played a central role in identifying financially vulnerable individuals through agents and persuading them to donate organs in exchange for money.

According to investigators, the racket functioned under the cover of medical tourism and relied heavily on forged documents to bypass legal scrutiny. Police alleged that fake recommendation letters and certificates were prepared in the names of public representatives and police officials to facilitate illegal organ transplants.

The probe intensified after police recently recovered forged documents from a photocopy shop at Pallikkara near Kizhakkambalam in Ernakulam district. Six persons were arrested in connection with the case, after which Najeeb reportedly went into hiding.

Police said a crucial breakthrough came from the confidential statement of a 35-year-old woman from Vadakkekkara, who allegedly donated her kidney through the illegal network. The woman had initially approached district and state-level authorisation committees seeking permission for kidney donation. Both committees rejected her application after suspecting financial dealings behind the proposed transplant.

She later approached the Kerala High Court seeking approval, but the court directed her to approach the state-level committee again. The request was once more rejected after officials found indications that the donation was not voluntary.

However, police later discovered records showing that the kidney transplant had eventually taken place last year through allegedly illegal means. Investigators suspect forged documents were used to obtain hospital clearance for the surgery.

According to the woman’s statement, the racket had demanded Rs 20 lakh from the recipient patient, while the donor received only Rs 9 lakh. The remaining amount was allegedly pocketed by intermediaries and agents as commission.

Police are continuing investigations to identify the full extent of the network and those involved in facilitating the illegal transplants.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman