Beijing cracks down on the 'blood sales' underworld

(caption 1: iron pills gangsters make "blood slaves" to take)

Ming Pao - Beijing is shocked by the "blood slaves" news. High-level officials of the heath ministry and blood specialists have rushed to Guangdong to investigate into the horrifying news.

Health officials are worried because Guangdong has been the source of several large-scale transmittable diseases such as SARS and the bird flu. Blood selling might complicate the health status of the region. Spread of HIV and hepatitis is also feared.

Local media reports say over 100 cops set out to the two "blood selling villages" in Jieyang on Wednesday and arrested one "blood head" and 5 "blood slaves".

Hu Jia, an HIV/AIDS advocate, said the majority of the blood slaves are villagers in poverty. Local health officials have allowed the activity to continue for years.

According to Hu, many blood slaves are drug addicts who share needles among them. Their blood may spread AIDS and many other diseases.

Hu said some blood slaves are victims of the one-child policy. Parents who give birth to more than one child could face huge fines. Some seek to sell their blood to pay the fines.

According to the investigation by CCTV, there are about 600 "professional blood sales" in Jieyang. Most of them are peasants from Jinagxi and Anhui. They live collectively in the homes of the "blood heads", or the mid-level managers.

See also:
Chinese 'blood slaves' sell blood 15 times a month for a living

Tags: blood slaves, blood lords, selling blood, blood donor, blood sales, china, jieyang, guangdong