Coronavirus: Interpol warns of crime syndicates using new ways to benefit from Covid-19 crisis to make quick money

With the Coronavirus outbreak laying hold of India and other parts of the globe, the Interpol has cautioned that crime syndicates and criminal have come up with new ways to cash in from the public health crisis.

The international policing body has stated that criminals and organised crime syndicates will use SARS-CoV-2 scare to make quick money selling substandard commodity.

In a detailed presentation, Interpol stated that fake commodities like mask, sanitiser and corona ‘spray’ have flooded the market.

To clampdown against such activities, Interpol launched ‘Operation Pangaea’ in March 2020 which led to the arrest of 121 individuals across 90 nations. The international policing body also confiscated counterfeit protucts worth $14 million.

In a memo given to all member nations, Interpol has given a list of instructions to be adhere to by law enforcement agencies including rigorous border patrolling.

However, India did not take part in Operation Pangaea.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has offered an opportunity for fast cash as predatory criminals take advantage of the high market demand for personal protection and hygiene products. The results of Operation Pangea, conducted by Interpol with enforcement partners in March 2020, have shown an increase in fake or counterfeit medical items available on the market including, disposable surgical masks, hand sanitizers, antiviral and antimalarial medication, vaccines, COVID-19 test kits," the Interpol said in a statement.

Elucidating the method of working, the Interpol stated that criminal use the names of prominent companies implicated in the production and distribution of these commodities and victims are then asked to disburse through bank transfer.

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