Human placenta trade investigation in Pakistan: 500 kilograms of material seized
The FIA has expanded its investigation into allegations that placentas collected from hospitals were being processed to be turned into anti-aging injections.
12punto
Federal authorities in Pakistan have expanded an investigation into allegations that human placentas were being illegally collected from hospitals and processed for use in the production of anti-aging injections.
The Pakistan Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) alleges that the network purchased approximately 200 kilograms of placenta from various hospitals every month. During a raid conducted at the end of last month in the capital, Islamabad, 500 kilograms of material believed to be human placenta were seized at a location described as an illegal processing facility; five people were arrested in the initial phase.
It was reported that the number of people detained in the investigation later rose to nine. FIA officials also announced that 100 kilograms of human placenta were seized at Islamabad International Airport, destined for Vietnam. It is noted that while the use of animal placenta is legal in Vietnam, the use of human placenta is prohibited.
HOSPITALS AND WASTE COMPANIES UNDER SCRUTINY
Hina Kanwal of the Human Organ Transplant Authority of Pakistan stated that the suspects paid approximately 2.90 dollars per placenta to hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, adding that this would not have been possible without the cooperation of hospital administrators.
According to the FIA, the collected material was to be dried and processed before being sent abroad, where it would then be turned into anti-aging injections and sold for approximately 2,530 dollars each. The buying and selling of human placenta is illegal in Pakistan; those found guilty of collecting human organs for commercial purposes can face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 3,600 dollars.
Authorities indicate that the network's activities may have extended to other major cities, including Lahore and Peshawar. As part of the investigation, allegations of potential complicity by waste management companies and immigration officers, in addition to hospitals, are being examined.
Gynecologist Sadaf Tariq in Pakistan emphasized that the placenta is considered "highly infectious medical waste" and must be placed in biohazardous waste bags immediately after birth. According to Tariq, the placenta is transported from the delivery room or operating theater to the hospital's central cold storage, kept for a maximum of 24 hours, and then incinerated as per standard procedure.
TRADITIONAL USE AND SCIENTIFIC DEBATE
The placenta is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the baby via the umbilical cord. The placenta, which is expelled from the body after birth or removed during a cesarean section, has been used in traditional medicine in some cultures for centuries.
Demand for placenta extracts in the cosmetic and supplement sectors is also growing. According to the US-based market research firm Polaris, the global value of the legal placenta trade is over 700 million dollars annually; this figure is expected to exceed 1.4 billion dollars by 2034. It is stated that the demand is linked to pig, sheep, horse, and human placenta extracts.
However, experts emphasize that there is no definitive scientific evidence for the anti-aging effects of human placenta. While the use of placenta-derived products in some medical fields is debated, regulations vary from country to country. Uncontrolled and unhygienic consumption or processing processes lead to serious health concerns due to the risk of infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis.
It is reported that even in China, despite the ban on commercial sales, human placenta continues to be sold under different names on online platforms or "under the counter." Experts are of the opinion that the illegal trade of tissues classified as medical waste carries serious risks in terms of both public health and ethics.