The network was uncovered as the Criminal Police Division (PC02) of the HCMC Police Department investigated a human organ trafficking case in July.

Investigators identified Pham Do Dang Khoa, 37, a resident of Long Binh Ward in Dong Nai Province; Pham Thi My Ha, 32, of Pleiku Ward in Gia Lai Province; and Cao Thi Du, 38, of Trung Hiep Commune in Vinh Long Province, as the alleged ringleaders who operated the network.

According to investigators, the group searched for and connected people needing kidney transplants with people willing to sell a kidney. They negotiated prices, received payments and assigned accomplices to handle different stages of the transactions.

To evade detection by authorities, the suspects allegedly falsified and embellished documents to make commercial kidney transactions appear to be voluntary organ donations.

The group sought out patients with kidney failure through social media groups related to kidney donation and transplantation, as well as through personal connections. When contacted by a patient, they promised to find a seller with compatible biochemical indicators, charging VND1.4-1.5 billion ($53,000-$57,000) for each transplant.

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Suspects prosecuted and arrested in the investigation. Photo: Police

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Pham Do Dang Khoa, identified by investigators as one of the alleged ringleaders. Photo: Police

At the same time, the network allegedly targeted people facing financial hardship and urgently needing money, offering to buy their kidneys at substantially lower prices and profiting from the difference.

Investigators said the network operated with clearly assigned roles. Anyone who recruited a kidney seller would receive VND50 million ($1,900) for each successful transaction, while those responsible for taking sellers to medical examinations and tests, monitoring them and completing procedures were paid VND10 million ($380) per case.

Once a seller was found to be healthy and biologically compatible, the suspects took both parties to hospitals for more extensive examinations and worked to complete the necessary documentation.

To evade scrutiny from authorities and medical staff, the alleged ringleaders instructed the two sides on how to give matching accounts of their relationship, as well as their reasons and motivations for a purportedly voluntary kidney donation.

The group also allegedly prepared documents or sought other ways to make the donation paperwork appear legitimate.

According to investigators, although the documents described the kidney donations as voluntary, the donors and recipients had in fact agreed to commercial transactions beforehand.

After deducting expenses for medical examinations, testing, travel, accommodation and payments to members of the network, organizers allegedly made illicit profits of hundreds of millions of dong from each transplant.

So far, the Investigation Police Agency under the HCMC Police Department has opened three criminal cases and prosecuted 11 suspects for “trading in human body parts” under Article 154 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.

In addition to the three alleged ringleaders - Khoa, Ha and Du - investigators have prosecuted Nguyen Tan Dat, 38, of Phuoc Long Ward; Pham Nhat Tien, 31, of Ca Mau Province; Le Ba Huy, 31, of Binh Loi Trung Ward; To Minh Trung, 35, from Vinh Long Province; Nguyen Hoang Quoc Thai, 31, of Dat Do Commune; Ngo Thuy Tuong Vy, 33, of Phu Lam Ward; Cao Huu Dong, 61, of Hoa Hung Ward; and Huynh Thi Thuy Van, 35, from Khanh Hoa Province.

HCMC police are continuing to investigate and expand the cases.

Dam De