Police are investigating Australia's first case of organ trafficking, as donor shortages fuels illegal trade in body parts.
An elderly Sydney woman with kidney problems is allegedly suspected to have trafficked a younger woman from the Philippines with the intention of harvesting an organ, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Thursday.
The deal, which was allegedly made without the younger woman's full consent, was discovered during interviews at a Sydney hospital before the donation took place, the newspaper reported.
"This is the first organ trafficking case investigated by the Australian Federal Police," a police spokesman told the newspaper.
Police searched a residential premises in NSW in relation to suspected organ trafficking on March 24.
No arrests were made.
The federal Minister for Justice, Brendan O'Connor, told the newspaper that he was unable to give further details due to the fact that the investigation was continuing.
The AFP has confirmed the investigation began in March.
