Investigators from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security have disbanded a human organ trafficking ring and pressed charges against two individuals for their alleged involvement, the ministry announced on Tuesday evening.

Police officers prosecuted and detained Truong Thi Khuyen, 57, a native of northern Bac Giang Province, and Tran Van Hiep, 52, a resident of Hanoi, for allegedly trafficking and appropriating human organs.

According to the results of an investigation, Hiep had been seeking brokers to trade in human organs, especially livers.

Khuyen and several others were accused of aiding and abetting Hiep in his organ trafficking operation.

Khuyen, at one point, had lived with a partner named N.V.B., who sold kidneys and brokered human organ sales for Hiep.

Those who bought livers through Hiep were charged roughly VND1.2 billion (US$51,460). Sellers were given just VND450 million ($19,300).

Hiep would scout for potential sellers at local hospitals. After making an agreement, he would take the individual to a local hospital to test the status of their liver.

He also participated in Facebook groups focused on kidney donation and transplants.

According to police, a kidney transplant costs VND700 million ($30,000) while a liver transplant costs VND1.2-1.5 billion ($51,400-64,200).

Hiep pocketed the difference of some VND100-200 million ($4,280-8,570) from each organ traded. He then paid Khuyen VND20-30 million ($857-1,286) per case.

On August 3 last year, Hiep was caught red-handed by police officers taking three women to a Hanoi medical facility for kidney testing.

The organ trafficking ring is under investigation.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!