Raids on Multiple Hospitals Across Kerala Amid Organ Trafficking Investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted extensive searches across multiple districts in Kerala as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged organ trafficking racket suspected of generating substantial illegal proceeds through forged documents, middlemen and unlawful kidney transplants. Raids were carried out at nine locations spanning Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Kasaragod districts. The operation marks a significant escalation in efforts to uncover the financial networks behind the alleged trafficking syndicate.

Among the locations searched were Medical Trust Hospital and Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi, along with residences linked to individuals suspected of acting as agents and facilitators in the operation. According to sources, investigators are closely examining financial transactions involving hospitals, intermediaries and other entities believed to have profited from the transplant process. The probe is focused on identifying the flow of funds and determining whether illegal commissions were paid at various stages, including donor identification, recipient matching, medical evaluations and regulatory approvals.

The money laundering investigation stems from a broader criminal probe into an alleged organ trafficking network headed by Mohammed Najeeb, a 53-year-old native of Kasaragod who was arrested earlier this year in Ghaziabad after a month-long search. Investigators allege that Najeeb orchestrated a sophisticated network that exploited economically vulnerable individuals by arranging illegal kidney transplants. Authorities claim the syndicate relied on forged kinship certificates, fabricated medical tourism records and falsified recommendation letters to circumvent safeguards established under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA).

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According to investigators, recipients were allegedly charged up to Rs 20 lakh for organ transplants, while donors received payments ranging between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. The remaining funds were reportedly distributed among agents, coordinators and other facilitators involved in arranging the procedures. Officials are examining bank records, financial transactions and money trails to determine the extent of the alleged proceeds and whether funds were routed through legitimate businesses or financial institutions to conceal their origins.

The case first surfaced through an investigation conducted by Kollam City Police, which led to the arrest of alleged agents Sreeja and Sudheer for arranging organ donations for financial gain. A donor identified as Vinod was also taken into custody. During the investigation, police seized mobile phones, forged Aadhaar cards and other documents believed to be linked to the operation. Digital evidence recovered from one of the accused reportedly revealed details of a transplant conducted in Ernakulam, leading investigators to uncover additional links within the network.

Authorities suspect that Kallatras Medical Tourism Pvt Ltd, a firm allegedly connected to Najeeb, played a central role in facilitating illegal transplants and may have been involved in nearly 40 such procedures over the past five years. Several individuals, including Najeeb’s wife Rasheeda and other intermediaries, have already been arrested by the Special Investigation Team handling the case. The Enforcement Directorate’s parallel investigation is expected to focus on the scale of the alleged money laundering operation, the role of various facilitators and the broader financial structure of the suspected racket. Searches and investigations are continuing.

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