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Police operation brings charges for organ trafficking

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 06.07.2012 12:21
A nationwide police operation has led to 23 Poles being charged with attempting to sell their organs.
photo: glowimages.comphoto: glowimages.com

photo:
photo: glowimages.com

Some eighty police departments across the country took part in 'Operation Anons', which was conducted in cooperation with officers of the CBA, Poland's Central Anticorruption Bureau.

“This is the first large-scale operation against the trafficking of organs [in Poland],” police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski told the Polish Press Agency.

Over 105 people have been questioned by the police during the action, after officers scoured the internet for evidence concerning the illegal trade.

The vast majority of offers that were found on the web concerned the prospective sales of kidneys. There were also offers of bone marrow and liver lobes.

According to Sokolowski, none of the donors had actually undergone a transplant by the time that charges were brought.

The suspects face up to a year in prison for offering their organs for money.

The police have not hinted at any organised criminal gang in connection with the suspects.

In Poland, the mere publishing of an announcement proposing the sale of organs can lead to a one-year prison sentence.

The police have appealed to the administrators of web sites to be vigilant about posts regarding such sales, calling for an immediate tip-off if such cases occur.

The operation is ongoing. (nh)

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