New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) With several COVID-19 vaccines coming closer to approval, the INTERPOL has issued a global alert across its 194 member countries warning them to prepare for organized crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.
INTERPOL Secretary General Jurgen Stock said in a statement that as governments prepare to roll out COVID-19 vaccines, criminal organizations are planning to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains. Security agencies must be prepared for 'an onslaught of all types of criminal activity' linked to the vaccines, he said.
'It is essential that law enforcement agencies are as prepared as possible for what will be an onslaught of all types of criminal activity linked to the COVID-19 vaccine which is why INTERPOL has issued a global warning,' he said.
India is a member of INTERPOL since October 15, 1959. India will host the 91st INTERPOL General Assembly in 2022 after member countries of the global police body cleared the proposal with overwhelming support. Home Minister Amit Shah had given the proposal to the INTERPOL Secretary General at a meeting here in August 2019.
The INTERPOL issued an Orange Notice outlining potential criminal activity relating to falsification, theft and illegal advertising of COVID-19 and flu vaccines. It said the pandemic had already triggered 'unprecedented opportunistic and predatory criminal behaviour.' It also includes examples of crimes where individuals have been advertising, selling and administering fake vaccines.
'As a number of COVID vaccines come closer to approval and global distribution, ensuring safety of the supply chain and identifying illicit websites selling fake products will be essential,' the statement says adding that the need for coordination between law enforcement and health regulatory bodies would play a vital role in ensuring safety and well-being of individuals and communities.
The Secretary General warned that criminal networks would also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures which could pose a significant risk to their health and even lives.
'As international travel gradually resumes, it is likely that testing for the virus will become of greater importance resulting in parallel production and distribution of unauthorized and falsified testing kits,'
it said and advised the public to take special care when going online for searching medical equipment or medicines.
In addition to the dangers of ordering potentially life-threatening products, an analysis by the INTERPOL's Cybercrime Unit revealed that of 3000 websites associated with online pharmacies suspected of selling illicit medicines and medical devices, about 100 contained cyber threats, especially phishing and spamming malware.
UNI RB