Officers from the State Security Service and the Interior Ministry have uncovered a crime group suspected of trafficking human organs and tissues, the press services of the Interior Ministry and the State Security Service said.
The group consisted of 12 individuals residing in Tashkent, as well as in the Tashkent, Fergana, Bukhara, and Kashkadarya provinces. They used social media to find patients suffering from kidney and liver diseases and persuaded healthy individuals to sell their organs in exchange of large rewards.
Reportedly, using their connections abroad, the suspects forged IDs and introduced the donors as relatives of patients. The organ transplants were performed at a private clinic in a neighboring country.
Between 2023 and 2025, the group organized kidney and liver transplants for 32 patients. Part of the proceeds was used to pay clinics and donors, while the rest was divided among the gang members.
Furthermore, after the surgeries, the group members sold powerful painkillers at inflated prices to patients whose condition did not improve.
Criminal charges have been brought against members of the crime group under Violation of the terms and/or procedure for the removal and transplantation of human organs and/or tissues charge, Production, forgery of documents, stamps, seals, forms, their sale or use charge, Smuggling charge, and Illegal production, acquisition, storage, and other actions involving narcotics, their analogues, or psychotropic substances for the purpose of sale, as well as their sale charges of the Criminal Code.
The investigation has been completed, and the case has been referred to court.
