The raids also uncovered falsely declared disinfectants as personal protective equipment. (Representative)
Lyon, France:
Police seized 17,000 fake COVID-19 test kits discovered during raids on illicit food and drink products in dozens of countries, Interpol said on Wednesday.
Officials seized $ 40 million (34.5 million euros) of counterfeit or substandard goods in 77 countries, and arrested 407 people in the operation, which ran from December 2019 to June 2020.
The products included contaminated dairy products, meat from illegally slaughtered animals and food items falsely labeled as medicinal remedies, said Interpol, based in the city of Lyon in south-eastern France.
But police have also intercepted thousands of fake medical supplies as countries around the world rushed to secure supplies while locking down to reduce the coronavirus pandemic.
“As countries around the world continue their efforts to contain COVID-19, the criminal networks that distribute these potentially dangerous products are only showing their determination to make a profit,” said agency secretary general Jurgen Stock. , in a press release.
In addition to the mock COVID-19 tests, raids have uncovered disinfectants and even a shipment of seafood in South Africa, originating in Asia, which was falsely declared as personal protective equipment.
“Other illicit products recovered included cosmetics, shoes, clothing, handbags, auto parts, electronics, tobacco and drugs, valued at an estimated $ 3.1 million,” he said. declared Interpol.
This was the ninth year of the agency’s coordinated Opson raids on counterfeit or substandard food and drink, which routinely seize thousands of tons of counterfeit and potentially harmful products.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
