CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovan authorities say 7 people have been charged with organ trafficking.
Moldova’s prosecutor’s office said Wednesday the seven Moldovans were part of an international network that harvested kidneys from 11 Moldovan citizens.
It says poor Moldovans were persuaded to sell their kidneys for illegal transplants for $4,000-$10,000 (€2,760-€6,920) starting from 2001.
People were taken to a clinic in Turkey, where they had a kidney extracted if they were found to be healthy.
Prosecutors began investigating in 2003.
Moldova is one of Europe’s poorest countries, with an average monthly salary of 3,000 lei (€190).
