Five suspects sent on 4-day remand in human organ trafficking case

Five suspects, including three foreign nationals and two Pakistani citizens, were sent on a four-day physical remand after being presented before the District and Sessions Court in Islamabad in connection with an alleged human organ trafficking case.

Authorities claimed the group was involved in collecting and processing human placenta from hospitals and exporting it abroad under false declarations.

During the proceedings, the suspects were produced before Duty Judge Mian Azhar Nadeem following their arrest during a joint operation conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA) in sector F-7.

According to investigators, the arrested individuals include three foreign nationals and two Pakistani citizens. Officials said the raid led to the recovery of a large quantity of human placenta stored in different forms, including fresh, dried, and processed material. The recovered stock was taken into custody for further examination.

The FIA told the court that the suspects were allegedly involved in obtaining human placenta from hospitals in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. Investigators believe the material was collected through an organised network and later processed before being prepared for export.

Authorities further alleged that the processed placenta was falsely declared as sheep organs and shipped overseas. The investigation was focused on determining the source of the material, identifying possible facilitators, and tracing the intended destinations of the exports.

After hearing the FIA’s request, the court approved a four-day physical remand of the five suspects to allow investigators to continue questioning and gather evidence.

The court also directed the FIA to produce the suspects again after the completion of the remand period for further proceedings.