February 13th, 2025

More than 100 women kept as slaves in illegal egg harvesting farm in Georgia

Over 100 women were held captive in Georgia for illegal egg harvesting, misled by false surrogacy job ads. The operation involved organized crime and raised concerns about unregulated fertility practices and trafficking.

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More than 100 women kept as slaves in illegal egg harvesting farm in Georgia

Over 100 women were discovered to be held captive in an illegal egg harvesting operation in Georgia, primarily involving victims from Thailand. They were misled by false advertisements promising lucrative surrogacy jobs, only to find themselves imprisoned and subjected to non-consensual medical procedures. The women were recruited through Facebook, with salaries advertised between €11,500 and €17,000. Upon arrival in Georgia, they were taken to isolated locations where they underwent hormone treatments and monthly egg retrievals without proper care or compensation. Survivors described their treatment as inhumane, with some left without payment and threatened with fees for attempting to escape. The operation was exposed when one woman managed to alert Thai authorities, leading to the rescue of three women. The investigation, supported by the Pavena Foundation and Interpol, is ongoing, with many victims still unaccounted for. The case highlights the involvement of organized crime in the fertility industry, particularly a network led by Chinese nationals, and raises concerns about the unregulated surrogacy market in Georgia. Survivors have reported severe health issues due to the forced procedures, prompting urgent discussions about international surrogacy laws and trafficking networks disguised as fertility services.

- Over 100 women were held captive for illegal egg harvesting in Georgia.

- Victims were misled by false job advertisements for surrogacy.

- The operation was exposed after one woman escaped and alerted authorities.

- Organized crime, particularly a Chinese network, is implicated in the trafficking.

- The case raises concerns about the unregulated fertility market and international laws.

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By @iambateman - about 2 months
I’ve done a significant amount of NGO work related to human trafficking, though I’m no expert.

In any case, it’s my understanding that there remain tens of millions of people in some form of forced labor.

Stories like this remind me of how far we still have to go as a species when it comes to protecting vulnerable people.