A shocking human egg harvesting operation, where nearly 100 women were kept as slaves, has been exposed in Georgia, a former Soviet nation.
According to a report by the Bangkok Post, the illegal operation was run by Chinese criminal gangs and was uncovered after three Thai women were rescued from what has been dubbed the “egg mafia” by a Thailand-based NGO.
How the Racket Worked
Pavena Hongsakula, founder of the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women, revealed that she first learned about the operation from a Thai woman who had escaped after paying a ransom of approximately Rs 1.8 lakh.
The woman reported that many other victims remained trapped, unable to buy their freedom.
The victims were lured through Facebook job ads, which promised salaries ranging from Rs 10 lakh (€11,500) to Rs 15 lakh (€17,000) for working as surrogates for Georgian couples struggling with infertility.
The organisation behind the scam handled their travel documents, visas, and flights. However, upon arriving in Georgia, the women were imprisoned in four large properties, realizing too late that they had fallen into a dangerous trafficking network.
Forced Egg Extraction
At a press conference, one of the rescued women described the horrific conditions they endured:
- They were injected with hormones to stimulate ovulation.
- They were sedated and had their eggs forcibly extracted every month.
- The process was done with machines, and many suffered severe health complications.
“When we realized the job was a lie, we got scared and tried to contact people back home,” one victim recounted.
Eggs Sold for IVF Worldwide
According to Ms. Pavena, the harvested eggs were trafficked and sold internationally, likely for use in in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Authorities Investigating
Surapan Thaiprasert, commander of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police, confirmed that Thai authorities are actively investigating the case, working with international law enforcement to dismantle the trafficking network.
The case has raised serious concerns about human trafficking and illegal egg trade, shedding light on a deeply disturbing industry that exploits vulnerable women.
