Criminal group arrested for organ trade and drug smuggling

An organized criminal group engaged in human organ and tissue trafficking was uncovered in Tashkent city, as well as in the Tashkent, Fergana, Bukhara, and Kashkadarya regions, the State Security Service reported.

According to the investigation, 12 people were involved in the group. They located patients with kidney and liver diseases through social networks, persuaded healthy citizens to sell their organs for small sums of money, and, with the help of foreign contacts, forged identity documents to present them as relatives. Surgeries were then carried out at a private clinic in a neighboring country.

From 2023 to 2025, the group facilitated kidney and liver transplants for 32 patients. A portion of the large sums paid by patients was transferred to the clinic and donors, while the remainder was divided among the group’s members.

In addition, to ease the suffering of patients whose health did not improve after surgery, the group illegally sold powerful medications at inflated prices.

The State Criminal Investigation Department reported that a criminal case has been opened against the suspects under several articles of the Criminal Code: Article 1331 (trafficking in human organs and tissues), Article 228 (document forgery and use), Article 246 (smuggling), and Article 273 (illegal drug-related activities). The case has been forwarded to judicial authorities for consideration.

“Dear citizens, if you have been victimized by this criminal group or others in similar cases, please report it to the nearest internal affairs body or by calling 102,” the statement said.