Human trafficking for organ harvesting is surrounded by myths and misconceptions. In movies, he is often depicted as a person who wakes up in a bathtub full of ice, missing a kidney. However, the reality of this crime is much more complex, and these myths hinder our understanding of how traffickers operate.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime explains what is known and unknown about this hidden crime.
1. What is human trafficking for organ harvesting?
It is a form of trafficking in which people are exploited to obtain organs. Although victims often appear to have consented to the removal of their organs, their consent is invalid when there is deception, fraud, or abuse of a vulnerable situation . In such cases, they are considered victims of human trafficking.
Traffickers, who are often part of sophisticated criminal networks, profit by selling these organs to recipients who cannot or do not want to wait for legal transplants.
2. What is the prevalence of this crime worldwide?
In 2007, the World Health Organization ( WHO ) estimated that between 5% and 10% of all transplants performed worldwide used organs from the black market . However, with an increasingly large and aging global population, the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles, and increased mobility, the actual figure could be significantly higher.
The exact extent of this criminal activity remains unknown. Few studies have been conducted, as the clandestine nature of the crime makes data collection and verification difficult . Furthermore, victims may hesitate to come forward, since organ trafficking is a crime in most countries.
3. Why is there a demand for unethical organ transplants?
The demand for human trafficking for organ harvesting stems largely from the global shortage of organs available for ethical transplantation procedures. Although more than 150.000 transplants are performed worldwide each year, this figure covers less than 10% of global demand.
Desperation drives patients with organ failure to resort to obtaining organs through illegal means. The organ trade, which includes human trafficking for organ removal, is a lucrative criminal enterprise that generates between $840 million and $1700 billion annually.
4. What organs are removed in this form of human trafficking?
The organs most frequently removed from victims of human trafficking are the kidneys , followed by parts of the liver.
5. How do traffickers act?
Traffickers typically operate within complex and elusive global networks , requiring sophisticated infrastructure with medical specialists, logistical coordination, and access to healthcare facilities. They contact their victims through local advertisements, social media, or direct contact with recruiters, who may be former victims or trusted individuals within the victim's community.
These criminal networks are highly organized and flexible, often operating as mobile units or specialized groups. Key players include intermediaries who coordinate logistics, recruit medical professionals, and prepare fraudulent documents. To ensure the smooth operation of these schemes, they rely on a wide range of facilitators, such as health officials, hospital administrators, customs officials, and local recruiters.
Detecting this crime can be difficult, as traffickers often train victims to pretend to be relatives of the recipient to avoid suspicion during evaluations at hospitals or clinics.
6. Who are the victims?
The victims of this form of trafficking often come from impoverished, uneducated, and vulnerable backgrounds. Organized criminal groups specifically target the unemployed, immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees . Many are coerced, deceived, or see organ donation as a last resort to improve their desperate situation.
Although some victims receive limited financial compensation, many receive no money at all and sometimes not even post-operative care. The majority of victims are men , and two-thirds of reported cases involve male donors.
7. How do illicit organ transplants affect victims?
The long-term health consequences for victims can be devastating , as many experience a marked decline in their physical condition after the operation, in addition to stigmatization and depression. The psychological impacts often lead to a further deterioration in their standard of living, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and ill health.
8. What is the UN doing to address this problem?
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) provides technical and legislative assistance to strengthen criminal justice responses to human trafficking for organ removal. To support criminal justice professionals, this UN agency has published the Handbook for the Investigation and Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons for Organ Removal.
UNODC is developing research and capacity-building programmes, together with guidance, to enhance national capacities in combating human trafficking for organ harvesting and organ trafficking, and stands ready to provide capacity-building to interested States.
Next debate
Human trafficking for organ removal will be discussed at the 14th session of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) , to be held on 8 and 9 July 2024 in Vienna, Austria.
The Working Group is the United Nations system's primary forum for debate and exchange on human trafficking. It was created to facilitate exchange between crime prevention and criminal justice experts from countries that have committed to implement the United Nations Trafficking in Persons Protocol. More than 90% of States around the world apply this international instrument.