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Interpol has warned of a massive network selling failed Covid-19 vaccines after detectives in China and South Africa seized thousands of fake doses. Dozens have been arrested and an investigation is underway.
Interpol, which brings together nearly 200 police forces around the world, said 400 counterfeit vials – equivalent to around 2,400 doses – were found in a warehouse in Germiston, near Johannesburg, South Africa.
Officers also recovered fake masks and arrested three Chinese nationals and a Zambian national.
In China, police have arrested 80 people and seized more than 3,000 fake vaccines after identifying a network selling Covid-19 fake vaccines.
“While we welcome this result, it is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to crime related to the Covid-19 vaccine,” said Juergen Stock, secretary general of Interpol.
Networks
Last month, Interpol issued an “orange notice” warning authorities around the world to prepare for organized crime networks targeting Covid-19 vaccines, both physically and online.
In December, in an interview with German magazine WirtschaftsWoche, Stock said there would be a sharp increase in warehouse burglaries and attacks on vaccine shipments due to vaccine rollouts.
Interpol said it had received reports of fake vaccine distribution and attempted scams targeting nursing homes and warned that no approved vaccines were available for sale online.
“Any vaccine advertised on websites or on the dark web will not be legitimate, will not have been tested and could be dangerous,” Interpol said.
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