National Police Force Anticipates Sales Of COVID-19 Vaccines

Karo Penmas, National Police Public Relations Division Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - The National Police is taking steps to anticipate the sale or spread of fake COVID-19 vaccines in Indonesia. Because fake vaccines are starting to spread in several countries.

"Of course, the National Police will back up to anticipate the fake vaccines", said Head of Public Information Bureau (Karo Penmas), Police Public Relations Division, General Rusdi Hartono, to reporters, Friday, March 5.

"What is clear about these fake vaccines is that there are parties who will be responsible", he continued.

Until now, there is no information regarding the distribution or sale of fake vaccines in Indonesia. But the Police will supervise.

"But so far in Indonesia, there have been no cases of fake vaccines", he said.

For information, South African police have seized hundreds of fake COVID-19 vaccines and arrested four suspects in connection with the seizure, said global police coordination agency Interpol.

Those arrested were 3 Chinese and 1 Zambian.

The seizures and arrests came after Interpol, headquartered in France, issued a global warning last December for law enforcement in its 194 member countries.

Interpol is warning countries to be prepared for organized crime networks that offer fake COVID-19 vaccines, both in person and online.

About 400 ampoules - the equivalent of about 2.400 doses - of the fake vaccine were found in a warehouse in Germiston, which is east of Johannesburg, South Africa. There, officers also found a large number of fake 3M masks.

Not only that, but a similar case also occurred in China. Police identified a network selling fake COVID-19 vaccines and raided the site of its manufacture, resulting in the arrest of around 80 suspects. More than 3.000 fake vaccines were seized at the scene.