Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — Operatives from the Bureau of Immigration’s intelligence division have arrested a Sudanese national allegedly involved in human organ trafficking.
Elzaki Ibrahim El Habbib was apprehended by authorities in Makati City on Tuesday morning. The 44-year-old has been wanted for nearly 14 years.
He was previously arrested for carnapping in September 2009, but remained at large after posting bail. The suspect will be transported to the BI Warden’ s Facility in Bicutan, Taguig.
El Habib was arrested pursuant to a Warrant of Deportation issued by BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
The warrant stemmed from a Summary Deportation Order issued in 2013 due to undesirability and overstaying. In 2009, the BI received information from the government of Saudi Arabia that the suspect was involved in organ trafficking.
“So far, wala po tayong [we do not have] information about any cohorts, kakuntsaba sa kasong ito [an associate in this case],” BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.
“It’s a big case nakikita natin. It’s a cause of concern for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia because tayo ay in-inform ng kanilang gobyerno na gumagawa ito ng kalokohan, victimizing their nationals,” she added.
[Translation: We see that this is a big case — a cause of concern for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — because we were informed by their government that he’s been victimizing their nationals.]
“He was said to have enticed and recruited Saudi nationals needing kidney transplants to have it in the Philippines, but ended up swindling his victims,” BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan said.
The BI is still determining if the suspect is still in possession of kidneys in his organ trafficking modus and how much he is selling them for.
The agency added that perpetrators of these kinds of schemes must be stopped since they may entice more victims, especially Filipinos.
“Foreign nationals involved in unscrupulous activities that may harm our citizens are not welcome in the Philippines,” Tansingco said.
Sandoval says El Habib will not be immediately deported because of the pending carnapping case at a Makati Regional Trial Court.
She added that they will have to wait for the case to be resolved and coordinate with Saudi authorities to process his deportation.
