New Delhi, June 19 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out raids at several hospitals and residences across Kerala in connection with a money laundering probe linked to a suspected organ trafficking racket, people familiar with the development said. ED sleuths conducted searches at five locations in hospitals and residences in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam districts, officials said. The federal financial crimes probe agency, officials said, has launched a probe under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) based on multiple first information reports (FIRs) registered by the Kerala Police in various districts against a racket allegedly involved in facilitating illegal organ donations in recent years. According to ED officials, a preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were acting as intermediaries between organ donors, recipients, and hospitals, charging hefty sums to arrange donations. Last month, the Kerala Police arrested the prime accused, Mohammad Najeeb, a resident of Kasaragod, from Uttar Pradesh. Police investigations have found that the organ donation process involves complex verification procedures that require certificates and clearances from the police, local bodies, doctors, legislators, and members of Parliament....