Image: Interpol
Faizel Patel – 04/03/2021
Tax Justice South Africa’s Yusuf Abramjee says criminals are always trying to be creative irrespective of the COVID-19 pandemic to commit crimes.
Abramjee was speaking to Radio Islam on Thursday about an Interpol global alert on fake COVID-19 vaccines.
Interpol released the orange notice last year warning authorities to prepare for organised crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines.
Three months ago, the police’s narcotics unit discovered a warehouse in Germiston where criminals involved in the smuggling, storing and distribution of fake COVID-19 vaccines were arrested.
Three Chinese nationals and a Zambian national were arrested with the equivalent of around two-thousand-400 doses, containing fake vaccines including fake 3M masks.
Abramjee says the criminals are putting people’s lives at risk by selling the fake COVID-19 vaccines on the black market.
“Very often these fake vaccines like we’ve seen in China will just be coloured water or it will be salted water with the same vaccine colour, with the proper packaging. Imagine if these vaccines had to hit the market and get into the hands of people who really think it’s a real vaccine only to pick up COVID and the consequences could be fatal.”
However, Abramjee says there is a market for the fake Coronavirus vaccines.
“When you talk of the illicit trade whether it is the vaccines, PPE’s, these criminals are really trying their luck. It’s very unfortunate and very sad that during this pandemic they’re again trying to make some quick money out of it.”
Abramjee says Interpol and the South African police must be commended for arresting the perpetrators.
Listen to the interview with Yusuf Abramjee
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