Federal agents seize more than 11 million fake N95 masks

Federal agents have seized more than 11 million fake N95 masks designed to mimic those manufactured by 3M, officials said Wednesday.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro mayorkasAlejandro MayorkasFederal cyber agency secures deputy director after months-long vacancy, Biden ends Trump emergency order used to build border wall Biden’s cabinet opportunity MORE said in a press conference that the ministry seized the counterfeit masks over the course of several weeks.

The most recent seizure took place on Wednesday, when officers seized more than a million counterfeit masks as part of an investigation into a company distributing masks across the United States, he said.

Mayorkas added that agents had issued several search warrants and seized counterfeit masks in five states “from coast to coast”, adding that further action would be taken “in the weeks to come”.

“We are in a vulnerable time, with the pandemic costing so many lives and causing so much damage,” Mayorkas said. “The criminals [who] exploiting our vulnerability for a quick buck is something we will continue to aggressively pursue. ”

Officials declined to say where people were arrested and in which states the masks were seized as the investigation is ongoing.

The first leads on the fake masks came directly from 3M, which worked on the manufacture of N95 masks.

“3M is proud to partner with the US Department of Homeland Security to help combat counterfeit 3M N95 respirators,” Kevin Rhodes, 3M deputy general counsel, said at the press conference.

“This collaboration has helped prevent millions of counterfeit respirators from reaching frontline workers. We are committed to fighting the pandemic from all angles, by manufacturing the necessary PPE [personal protective equipment], striving to prevent counterfeiting and helping to ensure that N95s get to where they are needed most, ”he said

The company told The Hill that it recommends purchasing 3M N95 masks directly from authorized distributors. He provides advice on how to spot counterfeits on his website.

The seizures took place in connection with Operation Stolen Promise, which began in April to curb fraudulent and criminal activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic.