Remand Extended in Alleged Human Placenta Export Case

News Desk

Islamabad: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday extended the physical remand of five suspects by one day in a case involving the alleged illegal collection and attempted export of nearly 580 kilograms of human placenta.

The suspects, arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), were produced before Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shahzad Gondal.

During the hearing, FIA investigators sought a seven-day physical remand, arguing that further interrogation was needed to uncover the full scope of the alleged network and identify other individuals involved.

According to the investigation team, authorities intercepted a consignment of around 30 cartons containing approximately 580 kilograms of human placenta, which was allegedly being prepared for shipment to Vietnam.

Investigators told the court that additional custody was necessary to trace the source of the material, examine documentary evidence and determine how the alleged operation functioned.

The arrests were made during a joint raid conducted by the FIA and the Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA) in Islamabad’s F-7 sector, where five suspects were taken into custody.

Officials said the raiding team recovered a large quantity of fresh, dried and processed human placenta from the premises, which was seized for further forensic examination.

According to preliminary investigations, the suspects allegedly collected human placenta from hospitals in Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Lahore before processing it for export.

Investigators further alleged that the processed placenta was falsely declared as sheep organs in an attempt to evade customs scrutiny during overseas shipments.

After hearing the arguments, the court granted the FIA a one-day extension of the suspects’ physical remand and directed investigators to complete the next phase of the inquiry before producing the accused again after the remand expires.