According to recently published reports that read more like a horror novel, murder was being committed to aid in the beauty trade. Online reports state that an illegal ring that sold human fat was crushed by authorities in Peru. Reports indicate that the fat was sold to cosmetics producers in Europe. The group allegedly murdered a number of people, after which the fat was extracted at secret labs.

A newspaper in Peru claimed that the fat was sold for as much as US$15,000 (€10,000) per liter. Dozens of missing persons cases are said to be linked to the group’s illicit activities. Investigations are currently underway regarding the purported sale of the human fat. It is believed that human fat is used in anti-aging treatments, although its effectiveness is still doubted in some quarters.