Organ Trafficking
Organ Trafficking is the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring, or receipt of living or deceased persons or their organs by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or of the giving to, or the receiving by, a third party of payments or benefits to achieve the
transfer of control over the potential donor, for the purpose of exploitation by the removal of organs for transplantation.
First, there are cases where traffickers force or deceive the victims into giving up an organ.
Second, there are cases where victims formally or informally agree to sell an organ and are cheated because they are not paid for the organ or are paid less than the promised price.
Third, vulnerable persons are treated for an ailment, which may or may not exist and there upon organs are removed without the victim's knowledge.
The vulnerable categories of persons include migrants, especially migrant workers, homeless persons, illiterate persons, etc. It is known that trafficking for organ trade could occur with persons of any age. Organs which are commonly traded are kidneys, liver and the like; any organ which can be removed and used, could be the subject of such illegal trade.
Due to the shortage of organs available, long waiting lists, and poverty, organ trafficking happens in almost every country, including the U.S.. Out of the different types of human trafficking, organ trafficking is the one that we know least about.
However, as seen in the news stories to the right, there is definitely a problem.