First case of people trafficking for organs uncovered in UK She said the problem may have been in existence for some time, but had probably been "under the radar." According to the World Health Organisation as many as 7,000 kidneys are illegally obtained by traffickers each year around the world. While there is a black market for organs such as hearts, lungs and livers, kidneys are the most sought after organs because one can be removed from a patient without any ill effects. According to international experts the trade operates in three ways, firstly with the victim being forced to give up an organ, secondly where they agree to sell and organ and finally where a vulnerable person is duped into thinking they need an operation and the organ is removed without their knowledge. The process involves a number of people including the recruiter who identifies the victim, the person who arranges their transport, the medical professionals who perform the operation and the salesman who trades the organ. The Salvation Army report also revealed the extent to which males were becoming the victims of people trafficking, mainly for labour exploitation. Major Read said 41 per cent of the people they supported were men with the majority being trafficked from Eastern Europe and Africa.