Dr. Frankestein detained in Turkey

The Istanbul Police Department Financial Crimes Service detained Dr. Yusuf Erçin Sönmez, who is wanted by Interpol in connection with illegal transplantation of human organs, the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported.

Details of detention have not been disclosed.

In Nov. 2010, the European Union prosecutors brought charges against 9 suspects involved in illegal organ transplants in Kosovo. A group of criminals organized illegal transportation of organs to the Kosovo, mostly from the poor, and transplanted them into their customers. The defendants had promised $20,000 to the donors, while they demanded $110,000-137,000 from the patients.

There are 7 citizens of Kosovo, including a former senior official of the local Health Ministry, and Israelis among the defendants.