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Thousands of Fake Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Seized in China and South Africa


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March 4, 2021 at 11:30 AM

Police in China and South Africa have seized thousands of fake doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Global police organisation Interpol said the seizures were just the "tip of the iceberg" in vaccine-related crime.

The Lyon-based Interpol said 400 vials — equivalent to around 2,400 doses — containing the fake vaccine were found at a warehouse in Germiston outside Johannesburg, where officers also recovered fake 3M masks and arrested three Chinese and a Zambian nationals.

In China, police successfully identified a network selling counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines.

They raided the manufacturing premises, arresting some 80 suspects and seizing more than 3,000 fake vaccines on the scene, Interpol said.

Interpol issued an "Orange Notice" earlier this year, warning police forces worldwide to prepare for organised crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.

"Whilst we welcome this result, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine-related crime," said Interpol secretary-general Juergen Stock.

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