Fancy a human hand as a fashion accessory? Jokes aside, the Brazilian Federal Police have revealed that a human hand, along with three packets of human placenta have been shipped from a Brazilian university and are currently making their way to the Singapore shores.
An anti-human trafficking raid was carried out at Amazonas State University (UEA) and found that an anatomy professor is suspected of trafficking the organs. The police claimed that the accused is said to have sent plastinated human organs from Manaus and is allegedly bound “for a famous Indonesian designer who sells accessories and clothing using materials of human origin.”
Plastination is a modern process of removing bodily fluids such as water and fixing solutions through chemical methods, and replacing them for plastic resins like silicon and epoxy to preserve the body parts. The professor is now under investigation.
The package is allegedly bound for Indonesian fashion designer and influencer Arnold Putra. Putra, who isn’t one to shy away from controversy. Fascinated with human body parts, he made headlines for creating a handbag made of human spines in 2020. Putra, however, claimed that these parts were “ethically sourced” from a medical surplus in Canada and has papers to prove it. Putra, however, has come forward to deny having any involvement in trafficking the said human body parts.
He also defended his human spine bag, branding it as a “piece of artwork” and any reports that accused him of obtaining indigenous people’s bones and organs for his clothes and accessories were false. He also explained that his pieces that he created over the years were his personal projects, with no intention to profit.
Human organ trafficking is illegal in most countries. It is still not clear yet whether the shipment has been intercepted on its way to Singapore, so stay tuned for more details.
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