Human organ trade case: court extends remand of 5 accused by 1 day

ISLAMABAD, Jul 02 (APP): The District & Sessions Court of Islamabad on Thursday extended the physical remand of five suspects by one day in a case involving the alleged illegal collection and export of nearly 580 kilograms of human placenta.

Investigators told the court that around 30 cartons of placenta were being prepared for shipment to Vietnam, prompting a request for further custody to continue the inquiry.

The suspects, who were arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), were produced before Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shahzad Gondal.

During the hearing, FIA investigators requested a seven-day physical remand, arguing that further questioning was necessary to uncover the full scope of the operation and identify other individuals linked to the case.

According to the investigation team, authorities intercepted a shipment containing approximately 30 cartons of human placenta that was allegedly being sent to Vietnam. Officials informed the court that the seized placenta weighed nearly 580 kilograms.

Investigators said additional custody was required to trace the source of the material, examine records, and determine how the network operated.

The arrests followed a joint operation conducted by the FIA and the Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA) in Islamabad’s F-7 sector. During the raid, five individuals were taken into custody.

Authorities reported recovering a large quantity of human placenta from the premises. The seized material included fresh, dried, and processed placenta, which was taken into evidence for further examination.

Preliminary findings suggest that the suspects were allegedly involved in collecting human placenta from hospitals in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. Investigators believe the material was gathered from multiple healthcare facilities before being processed for export.

According to officials, the processed placenta was allegedly mislabeled to avoid detection during shipment abroad. Investigators stated that the material was declared as sheep organs before being exported to foreign destinations.

The court directed the FIA to complete the next phase of the investigation and present the suspects again after the expiry of the extended remand period.