Jakarta, IO – As many as five people who are members of an international kidney trafficking syndicate were arrested by immigration officers in Ponorogo, East Java. They were arrested while applying for travel documents or passports at the immigration office.
According to Hendro Tri Prasetyo, Head of East Java Immigration Office, the five people arrested included MM, a resident of Buduran, Sidoarjo; SH, a resident of South Tangerang; WI, a resident of Bogor; AT, resident of Jakarta; and IS, resident of Mojokerto. The five are now remanded in Ponorogo Police detention center.
It all started when MM and SH went to the Ponorogo immigration office to apply for a passport for a vacation to Malaysia. However, when interviewed, both of them displayed unusual behavior which made the officers suspicious.
“During the initial interview process, our officers stated that there were indications that the two of them were illegal migrant workers,” Hendro said, per Detik, Thursday (6/7).
After a long interview process, both of them finally admitted that they are going to donate their kidneys in Cambodia. They also revealed that their departure will be escorted by three dealers. Officers followed up the confession by hunting down the three people around Jeruksing Park, Juanda Street, Ponorogo.
“Five people were arrested. Two of them were suspected of being victims who were going to sell their kidneys, while the other three were suspected of having their respective roles in the syndicate that scouted the victims,” explained Hendro.
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In a separate statement, Head of the Ponorogo Immigration Office Yanto added that based on the results of initial investigation, IS was an eyewitness and WI played the role of recruiter. Meanwhile, AT helps with the passport application process and prepares accommodation.
“Each of them was promised a reward of up to Rp150 million,” said Yanto.
Furthermore, Yanto revealed that WI himself had gone to Cambodia to sell his kidney at a laboratory in Phnom Penh. However, WI’s efforts failed because his kidneys did not meet requirements. After returning from Cambodia, WI was recruited and employed by a kidney trafficking syndicate. (bp)