Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) says it has investigated and dismantled a syndicate suspected of smuggling human placentas from hospitals to be processed and exported for anti-aging products.

FIA officials allege the ring sourced placenta from multiple hospitals on a recurring basis, with the material then being dried and processed at an illegal facility. During a raid in Islamabad, authorities reportedly discovered a large cache of dried placenta at a converted premises used for storage and processing. Investigators also said the operation involved the export of a quantity of placenta through the airport, with a shipment allegedly intercepted and intended for Vietnam.

Officials said the group purchased placentas from hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi at low cost per piece, and that the processed material was being sold abroad for use in luxury anti-aging injections. The FIA said the network appears to extend beyond the capital, potentially involving other major cities, and that it is also investigating possible links to hospitals, waste-management companies, and immigration-related roles.

Separate reporting also states that several suspects were arrested, including foreign nationals, in connection with the investigation.