A number of persons, including a female citizen of Ukraine, are investigating for trafficking in women from Moldova to Turkey and from there to Northern Cyprus for taking egg cells from them, IPN reports.
In a press briefing, Iurie Podarilov, deputy head of the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons, said at least seven women were convinced in 2014-2015 to go abroad to donate egg cells. Most of these are from southern Moldova, from socially deprived families. The recruits included women aged between 25 and 27, mainly blonde, with blue eyes and bright skin, who had given birth.
According to Iurie Podarilov, before going to Turkey and from there to Northern Cyprus, the women received an ovarian stimulation treatment with medicines smuggled into Moldova and without medical supervision. The women were told that neither the treatment nor the egg taking procedure is dangerous. None of them was warned about the risk of becoming infertile.
For each egg taking operation in clinics in Northern Cyprus, the members of the group received by US$3,000 to US$4,000. From this sum, the victims got by up to US$500. Some of the women accepted to undergo such a procedure for even US$200.
Iurie Podarilov said this is the first case of such a kind documented in the region. In Moldova, the recruitment was coordinated by a 25-year-old woman from Ukraine, who was arrested together with her accomplices from Chisinau and Comrat. A Moldovan woman aged 34, who is suspected of heading the group, hasn’t been yet arrested as she settled in Istanbul. Investigations are performed in concert with the Turkish police. The culprits face 7 to 15 years in jail for trafficking in human beings for taking cells from them.
