Kerala Police Arrest Mastermind Behind International Organ Trafficking Network

The Kerala police have arrested Ballamkonda Ram Prasad, the suspected mastermind behind an international human trafficking network involved in organ harvesting. Prasad, also known as Pratapan, was apprehended in Hyderabad. The network primarily transported donors from rural India to Iran for unlawful kidney transplants.

In a breakthrough operation, the Kerala police have apprehended Ballamkonda Ram Prasad, allegedly the mastermind of an international human trafficking network involved in organ harvesting. Ernakulam Rural SP Vaibhav Saxena reported that the 41-year-old, also known as Pratapan, was found hiding in a hotel in Hyderabad.

Pratapan, a native of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, initially approached the trafficking mafia to donate his kidney but shifted roles after being deemed unfit for donation due to underlying health issues. Becoming the network’s pivotal agent, he transitioned to organizing illegal kidney transplants through social media.

Victims, mainly from rural areas, were transported to Iran where their kidneys were harvested. They were then sent back to India. The police have arrested multiple suspects, including financial handler Sajith Shyam and key recipient contact Sabith Nasar, currently in custody following his arrest at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).