Kidney trade: Myanmar villagers fly to India to sell organs illegally

To repay debts and own his own home, Burmese farmer Zeya (pseudonym) reluctantly chose to sell his kidney. The civil war triggered by the 2021 military coup led to soaring prices, making it difficult for him to make a living and plunging him into a debt crisis. The family could only live with his mother-in-law, living in poverty. This desperation underscores the severe economic impact of the ongoing conflict.

Zeya learned that some locals were exchanging kidneys for money and appeared to be in good health, so he began to inquire. He eventually contacted a "broker" who arranged a physical examination and informed Zeya a few weeks later that a suitable recipient had been found—a Burmese woman, and the two could go to India for surgery. According to the BBC Burmese service, Zeya is one of eight local people who have sold their kidneys by going to India. This highlights the organized nature of the illegal organ trade in the region.

In India, if the donor and recipient are not close relatives, they must prove that their motivation is altruistic and explain the relationship between them. Zeya said the broker forged a Burmese family household registration book, adding his name to the recipient's family tree to make it look like he was donating to a relative by marriage. Subsequently, the broker arranged for Zeya to meet the recipient in Yangon, where a man claiming to be a doctor completed more paperwork and warned Zeya that he would have to pay a huge fee if he withdrew. The doctor later responded to the BBC that his job was to check whether patients were suitable for surgery, not to verify the relationship between donors and recipients. This illustrates the deceptive tactics employed by brokers to circumvent regulations.

Zeya said he was told he would receive 7.5 million Myanmar kyats (approximately $1,700 to $2,700). He underwent surgery in a large hospital in northern India. All organ transplants involving foreign nationals must be approved by an authorization committee. Zeya was interviewed through a translator by about four people, and he claimed that he voluntarily donated his kidney to a relative and was approved. After the operation, Zeya was hospitalized for a week and had no major problems other than pain. The relatively low compensation highlights the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

Another donor, Myo Win (pseudonym), also revealed to the BBC that he also pretended to be related to a stranger. The broker gave him a piece of paper, asked him to remember the contents, and told him that the recipient was a relative's spouse. In addition, the broker arranged for a fake mother to answer the phone, confirming that he had been granted permission to donate a kidney to a relative. Myo Win said he received the same amount as Zeya but was described as a "charitable donation," and he had to pay the broker about 10% of the fee. Both said they received a third of the money in advance. Due to rising unemployment and economic collapse, the problem of illegal organ trafficking in Myanmar is becoming increasingly serious. The stories of Zeya and Myo Win reveal the operation of illegal organ trafficking in Asia and how poverty drives people to make desperate choices. These cases underscore the urgent need for international cooperation to combat organ trafficking and protect vulnerable populations.