BI men arrest Sudanese human organ trafficker

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently arrested a Sudanese national tagged as a leader of a Manila-based syndicate that victimizes Saudi patients in need of kidney transplants.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Nonoy Libanan, BI intelligence chief Faizal Hussin identified the Sudanese as Badreldin Elzaki Ibraim El Habib, 31, who was arrested last Sept. 17 at his condominium unit along Pasong Tamo Street, Makati City.

Habib was arrested by a team of BI operatives from the intelligence unit of the bureau’s newly-established Immigration Area Office in the National Capital Region-South.

Earlier, Libanan issued a mission order for the arrest of Habib after the Saudi embassy informed the BI about the involvement of the Sudanese in the swindling syndicate.

Habib is now undergoing deportation proceedings for being an overstaying and undesirable alien.

Investigation revealed that he entered the country in July 2000 and was able to initially secure a student visa which he failed to renew when it last expired in January 2004.

According to Atty. Henry B. Tubban Sr., Immigration Area IV-NCR-South chief, Habib has been the subject of complaints from Saudi patients who were swindled by the syndicate.

Tubban said the victims were allegedly enticed by the syndicate to travel from Saudi Arabia to Manila and undergo kidney transplants here but ended up being swindled after paying the syndicate with their hard earned money.

The syndicate allegedly operates its racket with the aid of Filipino medical practitioners who connive with Habib in convincing the victims to undergo their kidney transplant operations here.

The Saudi embassy reportedly sought the help of the BI after news came out that Libanan had ordered the bureau’s operatives to go after organ smugglers victimizing poor people, especially in the provinces. (BI News)