Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested the prime accused in a major organ trafficking case involving the illegal transport of Indian citizens to Iran for organ donation.
The accused, Madhu Jayakumar, a native of Ernakulam, was produced before a Kochi court on November 12 following an NIA application. The court has granted NIA custody of Madhu until November 19. He is currently being interrogated at the agency’s Kochi office.
The case was registered on May 18, 2024, after immigration officials at Kochi airport detained a young man suspected of being involved in an organ trafficking network. Initially investigated by the Ernakulam Rural Police, the case was later handed over to the NIA.
Investigations revealed that the accused targeted financially vulnerable individuals, misleading them into believing that the organ donation procedures in Iran were legal. The accused arranged recipients, coordinated treatments with Iranian hospitals, and facilitated the entire process by providing false information about its legality.
Last year, the NIA filed a chargesheet against Madhu, Sabith, Sajith Shyam, and Bellamkonda Ram Prasad. A Red Corner Notice was issued in February 2025 to trace Madhu, who was residing in Iran. His arrest is considered a major breakthrough, as he is believed to have coordinated organ trafficking activities and hospital arrangements in Iran.
