Police Bust Kidnapping And Organ-Harvesting Syndicate Operating From Hotel And Mortuary

Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have dismantled an alleged kidnapping and organ-harvesting ring reportedly operating from a hotel and a mortuary along the Airport–Owerri–Aba Road in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area.

The breakthrough, announced on Saturday, followed weeks of covert surveillance ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Imo Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, in response to rising cases of kidnapping on the Ngor Okpala axis.

According to police findings, intelligence-led investigations traced the syndicate to one High Chief Stanley Oparaugo, popularly known as “Morocco,” of Ngor Okpala. He is suspected to be the mastermind and alleged owner of Jessy Best Hotel, Ihitte Okwe, and a nearby mortuary known as Ugwudi — both located along the Airport–Owerri–Aba corridor.

Police said the gang lured unsuspecting victims into the hotel where they were robbed, abducted and forced to pay ransom. Several individuals who reportedly paid ransom were never seen again.

Further investigations revealed that victims were allegedly moved from the hotel to the mortuary, where they were killed and their organs harvested for sale to criminal buyers.

During a visit to the scenes, CP Danjuma and his team found Jessy Best Hotel abandoned. At the Ugwudi mortuary, operatives discovered several mutilated bodies suspected to be victims of the syndicate.

Security forces are currently hunting for the fleeing High Chief Oparaugo and his accomplices.

The operation was carried out in collaboration with the Imo State Commissioner for Health, the Chairperson of Ngor Okpala LGA and local vigilante groups. Tactical teams — including the ACP Operations, the Divisional Police Officer for Ngor Okpala and community vigilantes — have since taken over the area to forestall further criminal activity.

The Imo State Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to aid ongoing investigations.