China’s lethal organ trafficking of death row inmates

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and local hospitals are colluding in a highly organized organ trafficking scheme on living people according to a former Chinese government official. The Epoch Times reports that they are sourcing organs from living people, many imprisoned, then selling them to the highest bidder. All without knowledge or permission from the donors or their families.  

You’re just “giving back to society” 

Du Wen is the former executive director of the Legal Advisory Office of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Government. He now lives in Belgium but was previously imprisoned in China for 12 years. While in prison he heard that sentences for death row inmates were no longer done by a firing squad. Instead, it was being done by lethal injection.  

It’s well known that the CCP charged prisoners’ families for the bullet used to kill them in the past. But Du learned now they were using injections and there was no charge. He asked a prison officer why they were not charging for the injection as they had with the bullet. The officer replied that they just inject anesthesia instead and then take the prisoners’ organs. Thus, the person dies. No need to charge for injections.  

Du said:  

“That’s when I realized there really is such a thing as live organ harvesting, the police clearly told me… [they’ll] take all your organs… and there’s no compensation for you. It’s like you’re just giving back to society.” 

Further, Du met a lady on his release who told him after she had an ovary sterilization surgery, she made a horrifying discovery. One of her kidneys was missing. She asked Du to help her by contacting the media. He agreed and asked her to gather her diagnosis and operation documentation. But then, she disappeared. Du was unable to find her again.  

A “killing-for-profit scheme” of forced organ harvesting 

Since the 1990s the CCP has been accused of running a mass killing-for-profit scheme of forced organ harvesting. In 2019 an independent tribunal unanimously concluded that prisoners of conscience in China, especially Falun Gong practitioners, were being killed on an ongoing basis for their organs “on a significant scale”. The numerous organ transplant advertisements Du saw outside major hospitals in Beijing on his release were the evidence that tipped the scales for him.  

Du shared: 

“[The ads say], ‘If your matching [organ] isn’t successful, just call this number, and we’ll match you.’ They have an entire organizational system, with doctors and everything… This is large-scale organ harvesting from living people.” 

Du was then able to piece together how the system works based on what he learned from his experience and by talking to other inmates or prison officers. According to Du, a forensic doctor from the prison contacts a connected hospital. Then the doctors from that hospital go to the prison and remove the organs.  

Afterward, what’s left of the body is cremated. The family is never allowed to see the body of their family member. They are only shown the ashes, so they have no idea their loved one is a victim of organ trafficking. The organs are then sold on the open market. 

Murder on demand 

Du also spoke with organ recipients who had undergone mainly liver and kidney transplants. Some spent as much as $411,043 USD for their organ. The cheapest transplant he heard about was $123,313 USD. When asked them how they got the transplants they told him, “You just pay the money, and don’t worry about anything else”. 

And the profits being made on the organs have led to another horrific practice Du calls “murder on demand.” Prisoners of the most desirable age and health status are being targeted. “If a prisoner’s organ match is successful, regardless of whether their crime is light or serious, they are still sentenced to death”. Freedom United stands by those calling on the CCP to immediately end state sponsored organ trafficking. Take action now.