Human Tissue and Body Parts Trafficking Market Value: $6 Million
The Human Tissue and Body Parts market consists of the buying and selling of body parts taken from human cadavers. The supply of body parts are taken from bodies that are either donated to medical schools and other organizations, or stolen from morgues and cremation centers. As USA Today reported [...]
Price greater if body is broken up and sold
The price of a human cadaver varies depending on the way in which it is used. If the parts are dismembered and sold by piece (hand, foot, brain), then the broker will be able to gain a greater profit than if the cadaver was sold in whole.
Source: Annie Cheney, Body Brokers: Inside America’s Underground Trade [...]
Market structure of body parts trade
The Human Tissue and Body Parts market consists of the buying and selling of body parts taken from human cadavers. The supply of body parts are taken from bodies that are either donated to medical schools and other organizations, or stolen from morgues and cremation centers. As USA Today reported in 2006, ” unscrupulous employees [...]
Black market body brokers made over $6 million
According to USA Today, brokers in human tissue and body parts gained a profit of $6 million over the course of 19 years.
Source: Stephanie Armour, “Illegal Trade in bodies shakes loved ones”, USA Today, April 26, 2006, (accessed: April 28, 2006).
Person made more than $1 million selling body parts
A 2007 case in California reported by the Los Angeles Times stated that an individual “made more than $1 million by selling cadavers and body parts”.
Source: Charles Ornstein and Andrew Blankstein, “Two men charged in cadaver-trafficking scheme,” Los Angeles Times, March 7, 2007.
