Chinese criminal network exposed scandal of more than 4,000 stolen bodies

A large Chinese criminal network is under investigation for stealing more than 4,000 bodies from crematoriums and medical facilities to extract bones for dental transplants. The decade-long scheme involved selling bodies prepared for cremation to Sichuan Hengpu Technology Co. and Shanxi Ostrade Biomaterials Co., raking in about $53 million between 2015 and 2023, according to the South China Morning Post.

The case was disclosed on social media by prominent criminal lawyer Yi Shenghua on August 8, sparking widespread public outrage. The government of Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi Province, is reviewing allegations that the stolen bones were used for allogeneic bone transplants. Shanxi Orthopedics, a major bone substitute supplier, and Sichuan Hengpu, a large medical device manufacturer, are both suspected of being involved in the scandal.

It is reported that the trafficking gang spans at least seven provinces and is involved in a variety of activities such as corpse transfer, dissection, and storage. The Taiyuan Municipal People’s Procuratorate is investigating whether there are organized gangs involved in reselling corpses for profit.

The case has put a spotlight on the state-run funeral industry, sparked several arrests by anti-corruption authorities and highlighted serious ethical and legal issues surrounding China’s biomaterials industry’s handling of human remains.