# Illegal kidney sales in Myanmar

In Myanmar, the illegal sale of kidneys is an ongoing phenomenon, due to economic collapse following the 2021 military coup, that has driven a surge in illegal kidney sales, with desperate citizens resorting to organ trafficking to survive. Poverty rates doubled to 50% by 2023, leaving many indebted and without alternatives.

## Economic drivers

The illegal kidney trade in Myanmar is primarily driven by extreme poverty, economic instability, and a lack of social safety nets. The country, already one of the poorest in Southeast Asia, has suffered further economic decline since the 2021 military coup, with rising inflation, job losses, and international sanctions pushing many into desperation. In conflict-ridden regions like Kachin State and Shan State, people facing economic hardship often see organ selling as a last resort for survival. Myanmar's weak healthcare system exacerbates the issue, as individuals struggling with medical expenses or financial debt find themselves with limited options. Additionally, the lack of government oversight and widespread corruption enable traffickers and illegal organ brokers to operate with impunity, often bribing officials to avoid prosecution.
Beyond Myanmar's borders, high demand for kidneys from wealthier patients in China, Thailand, Malaysia, and India fuels the illegal trade, with brokers connecting impoverished sellers to foreign buyers. Human trafficking networks exploit vulnerable individuals, luring them with false promises of financial security or coercing them into selling their organs under duress, particularly migrant workers returning from abroad with heavy debts. The depreciation of the Myanmar kyat against stronger currencies makes payments in U.S. dollars or Chinese yuan particularly enticing for struggling citizens. Meanwhile, the ongoing political crisis has further destabilized the country, allowing organ trafficking to flourish in lawless regions where the military regime's focus remains on consolidating power rather than addressing humanitarian concerns.

## Trade methods

The illegal kidney trade in Myanmar thrives on a network of coercion, deception, and organized trafficking, facilitated by brokers, corrupt officials, and complicit medical professionals who ensure smooth transactions between desperate sellers and wealthy buyers. Brokers target impoverished individuals, particularly in conflict-ridden areas like Kachin, Shan, and Rakhine states, often luring them through social media or job advertisements with promises of high payouts. Many sellers are migrant workers burdened with debt, making them easy prey for traffickers. Victims are frequently deceived about the risks, with some never receiving full payment, while others are outright coerced or trafficked for their organs. Myanmar's porous borders with China, Thailand, and India enable smugglers to transport people and organs discreetly, sometimes using fake passports or falsified medical records to facilitate transplants in private hospitals abroad. Corrupt medical professionals, operating in secretive clinics or even mobile surgical units, bypass regulations by forging consent forms and medical histories, exposing sellers to unsafe conditions and lifelong health complications. Financial transactions are conducted in cash or cryptocurrency to evade detection, with sellers receiving as little as $3,000 to $10,000, while recipients pay up to $100,000. Corruption at multiple levels allows the trade to persist, with border officials, police, and hospital staff accepting bribes in exchange for facilitating illegal transplants. In lawless areas controlled by ethnic militias, traffickers operate with impunity, while Myanmar's military junta remains preoccupied with consolidating power rather than addressing this growing humanitarian crisis.

## Exploitation and human trafficking

Beyond voluntary sales, reports indicate forced organ extraction from trafficking victims, including those coerced as punishment in online scam operations. Some donors later regret their decisions, fearing legal consequences after realizing the illegality.

## Regional connections

Myanmar's illegal kidney trade is deeply linked to a broader regional organ trafficking network spanning China, Thailand, India, Malaysia, and the Middle East. Weak law enforcement, corruption, and transnational criminal syndicates enable traffickers to smuggle kidney sellers across borders, often using fake documents. Thailand serves as a major transit hub, with private hospitals and underground clinics performing illegal transplants, while China remains one of the largest markets for trafficked kidneys due to its shortage of legal organ donors. Many Myanmar nationals, including migrant workers and refugees, are lured or coerced into selling their organs, particularly in India, where black-market transplants occur with the help of corrupt officials who forge documentation to disguise donors as relatives of recipients.
Beyond Asia, Malaysia and the Middle East attract wealthy patients willing to pay high prices for illegal transplants, fueling Myanmar's organ trade through brokers operating in these regions. The situation is especially dire for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, who are targeted by traffickers due to their vulnerable legal status. Porous borders and complicit officials allow the trade to flourish, with organized crime groups and ethnic militias profiting from the illicit industry. Without regional cooperation and stricter enforcement, Myanmar will remain a key source of trafficked organs, leaving impoverished populations at severe risk of exploitation.

## Role of social media

Social media has become a vital tool for brokers and traffickers in Myanmar's illegal kidney trade, enabling the recruitment of desperate sellers and connecting them with buyers across the region. Platforms like Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp serve as key channels for advertising kidney sales, often disguised as offers to "help a sick relative" or using coded language to bypass platform regulations. Brokers lure individuals through fake job postings and financial assistance schemes, exploiting Myanmar's economic collapse and high internet penetration to target vulnerable people. Once an individual expresses interest, communication shifts to private messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, where deals are finalized in secrecy. Some brokers scam sellers by demanding upfront processing fees, while others facilitate illegal transplants across borders in Thailand, India, or China. Despite occasional crackdowns, traffickers adapt quickly by creating new accounts, private groups, and using encrypted messaging tools, allowing Myanmar's underground organ trade to thrive with minimal oversight and weak law enforcement intervention.