Human Trafficking for Organ Removal in Southeast Asia, By James Reed
The following material is not written primarily by me, but by a South East Asian student I came to know, who is deeply concerned about the issue of organ harvesting in South East Asian neighbouring countries. I knew a little about organ harvesting in communist China, but did not know how widespread the practice is. She did not want to put her name to this, as she is going back to her country in October. As she said to me: "you publicly criticise this, you disappear. Many have." I have no intention of travelling to South East Asia, even for all the tea in China. The following then is a bit formal in tone, like a Wikipedia thing, but gets out the information to Aussies who like me do not know much about this:
"Human trafficking for organ removal (THBOR), also known as trafficking in persons for organ removal (TIP for OR), is a form of human trafficking where individuals are exploited for their organs, often through coercion, deception, or abuse of vulnerability. In Southeast Asia, this illicit trade has emerged as a significant but underreported crime, driven by global demand for organs, poverty, and organised criminal networks. Here I provide an overview of THBOR in the region, its methods, victims, regional dynamics, and challenges in addressing it, drawing on international reports and local perspectives.
Overview
Human trafficking for organ removal involves the exploitation of individuals, typically from vulnerable populations, to harvest organs such as kidneys, livers, and corneas, which are sold on the black market to meet the demand for transplants. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that the global organ trade generates between $840 million and $1.7 billion annually, with kidneys and liver segments being the most commonly trafficked organs. Southeast Asia is a key hub for this trade due to its socioeconomic disparities, lax regulations, and proximity to conflict zones, which create pools of vulnerable individuals. The crime is often linked to other forms of trafficking, such as forced labour and cyber-scam operations, and involves complex networks of recruiters, medical professionals, and brokers.
Historical Context
The organ trade in Southeast Asia gained attention in the early 2000s, with reports of illicit transplants in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Historically, the region's poverty and political instability have made it a source, transit, and destination for organ trafficking. A 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, cited in a 2015 European Parliament report, suggested that 5–10% of global kidney and liver transplants involve illicitly obtained organs, with Southeast Asia as a primary region. The trade expanded as medical tourism grew, with countries like Thailand and the Philippines becoming destinations for "transplant tourism," where patients travel abroad to purchase organs.
In recent years, the rise of cyber-scam centres in Myanmar and Cambodia, often staffed by trafficked individuals, has been linked to organ harvesting. Victims lured with promises of legitimate jobs are sometimes coerced into selling organs as an additional form of exploitation. The 2015 ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the UN's Palermo Protocol have sought to address THBOR, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
Methods and Networks
THBOR in Southeast Asia operates through sophisticated networks requiring medical expertise, logistical coordination, and access to healthcare facilities. Traffickers use various methods to recruit victims:
Deceptive Recruitment: Victims are often lured with false job offers or promises of payment for organ donation. For example, in Cambodia, traffickers have advertised high-paying jobs to lure individuals, only to harvest their organs.
Coercion and Exploitation: Vulnerable groups, including migrants, refugees, and those in poverty, are targeted. Victims may be coerced through threats or debt bondage, with some receiving little or no payment.
Medical Complicity: Certified doctors, surgeons, and hospitals are often involved, complicating detection. For instance, a 2014 case in Cambodia involved alleged organ trafficking at a military hospital, described as a "training exercise" with voluntary Vietnamese donors, though financial transactions were not ruled out.
A 2023 case in Indonesia saw 122 nationals trafficked to Cambodia for kidney harvesting, with former victims turned recruiters facilitating the scheme. Social media and local advertisements are increasingly used to target victims, with brokers exploiting trust within communities. In Myanmar's Myawaddy region, cyber-scam compounds like KK Park have been linked to organ harvesting, with victims sold between compounds and subjected to extreme violence.
Victims and Impact
Victims of THBOR are predominantly from marginalised groups, including the unemployed, migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, with men comprising about two-thirds of reported cases. In Nepal's Kavre District, known as the "kidney valley," poverty drives individuals to sell kidneys, often to India, with many receiving less than promised or no payment at all. Victims face severe health consequences, including post-operative complications, chronic illness, and depression, often without follow-up care, leading to social stigmatisation and deepened poverty.
For example, a 19-year-old Nepali victim, Santosh, described physical limitations and fainting spells after selling his kidney, unable to perform hard labour to support his family. In Cambodia, a 2014 case involved a young man trafficked to Thailand for kidney removal, haunted by the transaction and left with inadequate compensation. The psychological and socioeconomic impacts trap victims in cycles of poverty and exploitation.
Regional Dynamics
Southeast Asia's role in THBOR is shaped by its economic disparities and geopolitical challenges:
Cambodia: Reports of organ harvesting have been linked to cyber-scam compounds, with victims trafficked from across Asia. A 2025 X post highlighted organ extraction from individuals lured by job scams, underscoring Cambodia's role as a hub for international crime networks.
Indonesia: A 2023 case revealed 122 citizens trafficked to Cambodia for organ harvesting, with recruiters targeting economically desperate individuals. A 2025 X post named alleged brokers in an Indonesian organ trafficking syndicate, reflecting public concern.
Vietnam: A 2023 case in Hanoi exposed a trafficking ring where livers were sold for $50,000, with victims receiving far less. Reports also suggest Vietnamese women and girls face trafficking for forced childbearing in China, potentially linked to organ harvesting.
Myanmar: The Myawaddy region, near the Thai border, is a hotspot for trafficking, with cyber-scam centres like KK Park allegedly engaging in organ harvesting.
Thailand and the Philippines: These countries are destinations for transplant tourism, with lax regulations enabling illegal transplants. Thailand's medical tourism industry has been scrutinised for forged documents linking donors and recipients.
Insights from Southeast Asian Language Material
A review of Southeast Asian language sources provides additional context. A 2021 Japanese-language X post from Cambodia highlighted organ harvesting as a growing concern, noting that international crime networks target young people with fake job offers, a trend linked to Cambodia's scam compounds. Similarly, an Indonesian-language X post from 2025 named alleged traffickers in a kidney-selling syndicate, reflecting public outrage and grassroots efforts to expose brokers targeting vulnerable communities. These sources suggest that local awareness of THBOR is increasing, often amplified by social media, though official reporting remains limited due to the crime's clandestine nature.
For instance, the Indonesian phrase "sindikat jual beli ginjal terorganisir" (organized kidney trafficking syndicate) in the 2025 X post underscores the perception of THBOR as a structured, profit-driven operation. In Cambodia, local Khmer-language reports, as cited by Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, describe victims trafficked for organs after being lured into scam centres, highlighting the overlap between trafficking types. These perspectives reveal a regional narrative of exploitation tied to economic desperation and inadequate legal protections.
Challenges in Addressing THBOR
Combating THBOR in Southeast Asia faces several obstacles:
Underreporting: The clandestine nature of the crime, combined with victim reluctance due to fear or stigma, results in low detection rates. For example, Nepal's National Human Rights Commission reported 150 kidney sales in one village, but only three cases were officially documented.
Medical Complicity: Involvement of legitimate medical professionals makes prosecution difficult. Cases in Cambodia and Indonesia show doctors and hospitals participating, often without legal repercussions.
Lack of Transparency: Limited data and weak information-sharing between medical and law enforcement sectors hinder investigations.
Global Demand: Wealthy patients from countries like the UAE,fuel demand, with Southeast Asia serving as a source due to its poverty. Transplant tourism in Thailand and the Philippines exacerbates the issue.
Regional Instability: Conflict zones, such as Myanmar's Myawaddy, and economic disparities increase vulnerability, with traffickers exploiting refugees and displaced persons.
Efforts to address THBOR include UNODC's development of a toolkit for investigating and prosecuting TIP for OR, launched in 2022, and regional consultations in Southeast Asia to enhance detection and cooperation. However, enforcement of international frameworks like the Palermo Protocol and ASEAN Convention remains uneven, with only a few countries, such as Indonesia, adopting specific anti-trafficking laws.
International Response
The international community has taken steps to combat THBOR. The 2008 Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism, endorsed by 150 researchers from 78 countries, called for prohibiting commercialised transplants and organ trafficking. Countries like Spain, Israel, and Taiwan have enacted laws to curb transplant tourism, with penalties for citizens purchasing organs abroad. In 2023, the U.S. House passed the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act, targeting global organ trafficking with sanctions and reporting requirements, though it awaits Senate approval. The WHO has urged stronger legislation and hospital oversight to prevent illicit transplants.
Cultural and Social Impact
THBOR in Southeast Asia highlights the intersection of poverty, globalisation, and medical ethics. The trade exploits systemic inequalities, with poor communities like Nepal's Kavre District becoming organ "banks" for wealthier nations. Social media, particularly in local languages, has increased awareness, as seen in Indonesian and Japanese X posts, but also spreads unverified claims, complicating public understanding. The Vatican, through figures like Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, has condemned human trafficking, including organ removal, as a violation of human dignity, calling for global action."
Thanks to this South East Asian lady for getting this information together. Here is some further reading:
https://thrivabilitymatters.org/illicit-trade-black-market-organ-trafficking/
https://www.justiceformyanmar.org/stories/who-powered-the-expansion-of-cyber-scams-in-myawaddy
Comments