An international human trafficking ring forced migrants to sell their organs as payment for their journey from Africa to Europe, an Italian police investigation has revealed.
Five
people have been arrested as part of the probe into the gang, which
allegedly arranges the harvesting of kidneys and other organs of
migrants arriving in Europe by boat.
Italy,
with its southern-most province Lampedusa just 80 miles from Africa, is
the gateway for many seeking new lives in Europe. Almost 150,000 have
made the journey so far in 2014. Around 3000 have died attempting the
journey this year.
The group of
Libyans and Eritreans allegedly demanded that asylum seekers pay €1,500
(£1,200) up front to board one of the often overcrowded and unseaworthy
boats.
Those
who could not immediately pay the full price were given the option of
paying after arrival, according to court documents seen by the Italian
newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Upon landing in Italy, the gang decided whether to 'use them as manpower or organ donors,' according to the arrest warrant.
Investigating
magistrate Tiziana Coccoluto wrote that the situation of the migrants
was like that of slaves, with the gangsters having the power to sell
them off to other criminal groups.
The gang's
'treasurer' Michael Brhane, was among those arrested, along with four
other men - Haile Seifu, Russom Gebrem Michael Henok, and Tesfay Bahta -
who allegedly worked as cashiers collecting money owed in Italy.
The five face charges of human trafficking aiding illegal immigration.
Police
suspect that other gang members are responsible for the tragedy off the
island of Lampedusa last year that killed 300 people on October 3 2013.
The evidence found is thought to be only the tip of the iceberg of the international trade in organs.
The
bodies of migrants lacking organs are often found in the north african
Sinai desert, Alganesh Fessaha, an activist campaigning against
trafficking, has warned.
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