The international police agency says 400 vials containing counterfeit vaccine were found in a warehouse outside the South African capital, Johannesburg.
Security officials from China and South Africa confiscated thousands of counterfeit doses of the coronavirus vaccine, the world police agency Interpol revealed on Wednesday.
International police said in a statement that 400 vials, equivalent to about 2,400 doses, containing the fake vaccine, were found in a warehouse in Germiston, outside Johannesburg, South Africa, where officers also went recovered fake masks and arrested three Chinese citizens and one Zambian citizen.
“Since COVID-19 hit the coasts of South Africa, the government has taken an integrated multidisciplinary approach to law enforcement,” said Brigadier Vish Naidoo, a spokesman for the South African national police, according to the Interpol statement.
“This, together with our partnership with counterparts from all Interpol member countries, is proving to be very effective, as we have seen in the arrests of foreign nationals trying to transmit fake vaccines to unsuspecting people in South Africa.”
In China, police successfully identified a sales network for counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines in an investigation backed by Interpol, which has 194 member countries, he said.
Police attacked the manufacturing premises and arrested about 80 suspects and seized more than 3,000 counterfeit vaccines at the site.
“The Chinese government attaches great importance to vaccine safety. Chinese police are conducting a specific campaign to prevent and crack down on vaccine-related crimes, “a spokesman for China’s public security ministry said.
‘Tip of the iceberg’
Earlier this year, Interpol issued an “Orange Notice” warning to authorities around the world to prepare for organized crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.
“While we welcome this result, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to crimes related to the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Juergen Stock, Interpol Secretary General.
Interpol said it was also receiving additional reports about the fake distribution of vaccines in residences.
“There are currently no approved vaccines available for sale online. Any vaccine advertised on websites or in the dark network will not be legitimate, will not be tested and may be dangerous, “the statement said.
“Anyone who buys these drugs puts themselves at risk and gives their money to organized criminals.”
Stock had warned in December, in an interview with the German weekly Wirtschafts Woche, of a sharp rise in crime due to vaccine launches, with shoplifting and shoplifting and attacks on vaccine shipments.