KATHMANDU, Sept 1: Police have arrested Shyam Krishna Bhandari, 38, of Sindhupalchok, the alleged mastermind of a kidney trafficking racket accused of sending Nepali citizens to India for illegal organ trade. While the group has confessed to trafficking 25 individuals, investigators believe the actual number of victims exceeds 100.
Bhandari was taken into custody at the Gaddachauki border in Kanchanpur. His close associate, Sujan Bharati, 29, also from Sindhupalchok, was detained at the Birgunj checkpoint while attempting to re-enter Nepal from India, according to the Nepal Police Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau.
The arrests follow complaints filed by five victims who reported being duped with promises of large cash payments and reassurances that donating a kidney would not harm their health. Victims were identified across multiple districts, including Sindhupalchok, Kavre, Sindhuli, Nuwakot, and Dhading.
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Police investigations reveal that Bhandari’s accomplices primarily targeted illiterate individuals and those living in poverty. Recruits were promised up to INR 600,000 for a kidney. However, some victims told police they received as little as INR 5,000 after surgery.
After being taken to India, victims were lodged in hotels arranged by Bhandari, where blood samples were collected for compatibility tests. Within days, they were moved to private clinics or hospitals where kidney extraction surgeries were performed. According to police, the victims were sedated, blindfolded, and kept in the facility for three to four days before being sent back to Nepal.
Investigators also found that Bhandari paid Bharati and other recruiters around NPR 40,000 for each person they delivered to India for organ removal.
The crackdown came under *Operation Life Field*, a special police operation launched earlier this month. On August 4, three others—Rakesh Nepali, Sameer Nepali, and Raj Kumar Nepali—were also arrested for their involvement in the same network, leading authorities to Bhandari.
So far, four formal cases have been registered against the group. Bhandari and his accomplices have been charged under sub-section (c) of Section 15 of the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, which bans the sale of human organs abroad. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison and a fine ranging from Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000. They have also been charged with organized crime, which could increase the sentence to 15 years and a fine of up to Rs 750,000.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely as the network’s operations are further uncovered.
