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Thiruvananthapuram: An illegal organ trafficking racket in Kerala operated for five years, luring financially vulnerable donors with payments of Rs 5–15 lakh while charging desperate patients Rs 20–35 lakh for transplants, the Enforcement Directorate said. The ED's money laundering case stems from a Kerala Police investigation, which led to the registration of five FIRs in May. So far, nine accused have been arrested.Kerala Police arrested the main accused, Muhammed Najeeb, and his wife, Rasheeda. According to officials, Najeeb has 12 criminal cases against him, including a murder case registered in Mangaluru in 2017.Initial findings reveal that Muhammed Najeeb K. and his partner Rasheeda A.A., operating through their front company, Kallatharas
Medical Tourism Pvt. Ltd., orchestrated the racket between 2021 and 2026.The anti-money laundering agency took cognizance of multiple FIRs and conducted searches on June 18 at nine locations across Kerala under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the large-scale illegal organ trafficking racket."The investigation was initiated based on FIRs registered by the Kerala Police, which uncovered a sophisticated criminal syndicate involving forgery of official documents, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and illegal organ trafficking under the façade of legitimate altruistic organ donation and medical tourism," the ED said in a statement on Sunday.During the investigation, Kerala Police recovered fake letterheads of MPs and MLAs, forged seals, and fabricated hospital documents."Through a network of agents and middlemen, the accused targeted financially distressed donors, luring them with payments of ₹5–15 lakh while charging recipients ₹20–35 lakh or more," the ED said.Najeeb reportedly earned a profit of ₹3–5 lakh from each organ transplant. According to official data, more than 2,500 patients in Kerala require kidney transplants.The accused allegedly forged multiple documents, including fake altruism certificates purportedly issued by police authorities, recommendation letters from public representatives, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and other certificates."These forgeries were executed at Sun Communications DTP Centre and Sign HD Digital Studio in Pallikkara, Ernakulam. Thereafter, illegal transplant procedures were facilitated at major hospitals in Ernakulam," the ED said after completing the searches.Ernakulam Police identified more than 20 kidney transplants that were allegedly carried out as part of the organ trafficking racket, government records show.The ED said the searches were conducted to trace the proceeds of crime, identify the ultimate beneficiaries, and recover incriminating records, digital evidence, and financial transaction details linked to the illegal organ trade."During the ED search operations, several incriminating records were seized, including forged documents and comprehensive details relating to organ transplant surgeries conducted at hospitals, such as particulars of donors and recipients and documents submitted for approval before the District-Level Authorisation Committee," the agency said.The ED is also examining records of immovable properties held in the names of the accused and their associates to determine whether they were acquired using proceeds of crime."Freezing orders have also been issued with respect to the bank accounts of agents and intermediaries who facilitated the illegal organ trade," the ED said.Bank account details of the accused and their associated entities have been obtained and are being scrutinized to trace the flow and layering of the proceeds of crime.
