MOSCOW, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Two forensic surgeons in the Russian republic of Tatarstan have been questioned in connection with accusations they traded in human body parts, officials say.

Body parts found in June inside a truck that shipping documents indicated should have been blood and blood components triggered the investigation, RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.


Surgeons from Tatarstan's forensics bureau reportedly extracted bone tissue from heels and knee cartilage of deceased people and sold it to dentists and cosmetic surgery firms.

Collagen extracted from bone tissue is commonly used in cosmetic and other surgical procedures.

The republic's Investigative Committee confirmed in a statement "an investigation in line with a criminal case against officials from the Republican Forensics Bureau is underway."