Recent reports show that there are at least three foreign nationals are expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court, east of Johannesburg.
According to accounts, they are now charged with contravening the Counterfeit Goods Act after being found with fake COVID-19 vaccines and masks.
This means that, the three were arrested in November last year during a raid at a Germiston warehouse where authorities seized hundreds of fake COVID-19 vaccines and recovered a large quantity of fake masks valued at R6 million.
The SMCNews further heard that, it is alleged that 400 containers – equivalent to about 2 400 doses – containing the fake vaccine were found at the warehouse.
Interpol issued an Orange Notice, warning law enforcement to prepare for organized crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.
The alert included details and images of genuine vaccines and authorized shipping methods provided by pharmaceutical companies to assist in the identification of fake containers.
The suspects are also charged with contravention of the Customs and Excise Act (for false declaration of goods) as well as contravention of the Medicines and Related Substances Act.