ISLAMABAD (special crosspondent) – Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), in partnership with the Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA), has escalated its probe into an alleged illicit network involved in processing human tissue within the federal capital. On Friday, a duty magistrate authorised a four-day physical remand for five individuals apprehended in connection with the case, comprising three Chinese nationals and two Pakistani citizens. The suspects are scheduled to reappear in court on Monday. In a significant development during the initial phase of interrogation, investigators executed a further joint raid in the E-11 sector of Islamabad. This operation led to the discovery and seizure of a substantial quantity of processed human placenta, reportedly stored in refrigerators, alongside dozens of containers filled with the same material. Authorities have stated that the recovered placental tissue was allegedly processed and stored for commercial gain. During this latest operation, two Pakistani workers, identified as Amjad Iqbal and Muhammad Nasir, were detained for questioning. Investigators revealed that the processed products were purportedly exported to Vietnam under the commercial designation “She Placenta.” The case was officially registered with the FIA Corporate Crime Circle Islamabad, stemming from a complaint lodged by HOTA Administrative Officer Hina Kanwal. A dedicated special investigation team has been established to oversee this inquiry, led by Assistant Director Umar Arsalan. The team’s members include Sub-Inspector Kashif Saeed, Sub-Inspector Muhammad Junaid, and SI Tabish. These recent actions follow a raid conducted by the FIA on Thursday at a suspected illegal human tissue processing facility in Islamabad, which resulted in the arrest of the aforementioned five individuals. During that initial raid, investigators also confiscated processed human placenta, processing machinery, various chemicals, and other materials purportedly connected to the operation. The FIA has indicated that the ongoing investigation is concentrating on several key areas: tracing the origin of the human placental tissue, identifying any international connections within the network, scrutinising the processing methodologies employed, and determining the legal standing of the alleged exports. Officials have suggested that further arrests may be forthcoming as the investigation gains momentum.