$53 Million Corpse Trading Scandal Uncovered in China: Thousands of Bodies Illegally Sold
Shocking Illegal Trade in Corpses Unveiled in China, Netting $53 Million
On August 8, a lawyer named Yi Shenghua publicly revealed details of a chilling case involving the theft, desecration, and deliberate destruction of corpses in China. The materials, issued by the Taiyuan Public Security Bureau on May 23, 2023, indicated that the case had been forwarded to the Taiyuan Procuratorate for review and prosecution. Shanxi Aorui Biological Materials Co., Ltd. is accused of illegally purchasing bodies and body parts as raw materials to produce "allogeneic bone graft materials," generating a staggering total revenue of 380 million yuan (approximately $53 million) between 2015 and 2023.
The police investigation led to the seizure of over 18 tons of human skeletal raw materials and semi-finished products, as well as 34,077 finished products. The case involves the illegal theft and sale of thousands of corpses, with 75 suspects implicated, including employees of Shanxi Aorui and other companies, as well as various medical institutions and crematoria across China.
Key Takeaways
- Scope of the Crime: The illegal activities spanned multiple provinces and involved numerous institutions, including hospitals and funeral homes.
- Seized Materials: Authorities confiscated 18 tons of human bones and 34,077 finished products.
- Revenue: The operation generated approximately $53 million over eight years.
- Implicated Parties: 75 individuals, including high-ranking medical professionals and funeral home employees, are facing charges.
Analysis
This case is extraordinary not only because of the sheer number of bodies involved but also due to the extensive network of collaborators across different sectors. The primary suspect, Shanxi Aorui Biological Materials Co., initially a state-owned entity, was transformed into a private enterprise under the leadership of Li Baoxing, a respected researcher and entrepreneur. The company, purportedly a high-tech enterprise specializing in medical materials, managed to evade detection for years despite the suspicious volume and frequency of corpse acquisitions.
One particularly disturbing aspect of the case is the involvement of medical professionals and institutions, which underscores severe lapses in ethical standards and regulatory oversight. For instance, the Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital's liver disease center deputy director, Li Mouqiang, was found to have dismembered bodies and stored them in cold storage before selling them to Shanxi Aorui. Similarly, Guangxi Medical University's anatomy department staff member Lan Moumou sold 322 skeletons at 10,000 yuan each.
The operation's complexity and the lack of earlier detection raise significant questions about the effectiveness of regulatory bodies and the potential complicity or negligence of various officials and institutions. The illicit trade was sustained through the fabrication of donation certificates and inspection reports, with many employees falsifying signatures on donation forms to legitimize their activities.
Did You Know?
- Origin of the Company: Shanxi Aorui Biological Materials Co. began as a research institute before transitioning into a private enterprise. Its CEO, Li Baoxing, a former national labor model and expert in radiology and biomedical materials, played a crucial role in its development.
- Innovation vs. Ethics: The company boasted numerous national patents for its "allogeneic bone graft materials," which have been used to help countless orthopedic patients across China. This juxtaposition of innovation and gross ethical violations highlights a stark contrast.
- Broader Implications: This case has cast a shadow over China's medical and funeral industries, revealing significant vulnerabilities in the management and oversight of human remains. It has sparked a national outcry and a call for more stringent regulations and ethical standards in handling human bodies.
The prosecution of this case is ongoing, and given its complexity, it may be some time before all responsible parties are held accountable. This scandal will likely remain a prominent topic of discussion and reflection in China for years to come.