Turkish authorities have broken up an alleged human egg trafficking ring with links to the occupied north, Albania and Georgia, arresting 36 people in simultaneous operations across 14 provinces.
The investigation found that 41 women allegedly sold their eggs a total of 811 times for money, travelling abroad to do so, Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said.
The 53 suspects include the alleged ringleader, five of his associates, the 41 women, two gynaecologists and four people who organised the travel, Gurlek said.
The women travelled from Turkey to the occupied north, Albania and Georgia to sell their eggs, the Turkish newspaper Turkiye reported. No details have been made public about any clinics or doctors in the occupied north that may be involved, or how many of the sales took place there.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed through CIMER, the Turkish presidency’s public communication system. Investigators examined bank transactions, phone communications and records of travel abroad.
Turkish authorities are continuing efforts to trace the remaining suspects.
(information from CNA)
