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A fake global Covid-19 distribution network has been dismantled in South Africa and China and “hundreds of illicit vaccines have been seized with arrests made on two continents,” says Interpol, which represents 194 international police forces.
In a statement released Wednesday, Interpol said that in South Africa, “some 400 vials – equivalent to about 2,400 doses – containing the fake vaccine were found in a warehouse in Germiston, Gauteng.”
“Officers also recovered a large quantity of fake 3M masks and arrested three Chinese nationals and one Zambian national,” the statement added.
In China, “police successfully identified a ring selling counterfeit Covid-19 vaccines, raided manufacturing facilities, resulting in the arrest of some 80 suspects and seized more than 3,000 counterfeit vaccines at the scene,” the agency said. .
“While we welcome this outcome, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to crimes related to the Covid-19 vaccine,” said Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Public Security commented that “the Chinese government attaches great importance to vaccine safety” and will continue to “further strengthen constructive cooperation with Interpol” to crack down on illegal vaccine crimes, according to the Interpol statement.
Interpol said it was also dealing with “additional reports of fake vaccine distribution and scam attempts targeting healthcare agencies, such as nursing homes.”
The agency warned the public “that there are currently no approved vaccines available for sale online. Any vaccine advertised on websites or on the dark web will not be legitimate, will not have been tested, and may be dangerous. “
Anyone buying these bogus vaccines is “putting themselves at risk and giving their money to organized criminals,” the statement concluded.
