The mafia may try to steal COVID vaccines, Interpol warns

The mafia may try to steal COVID vaccines, Interpol warns

Interpol recently issued a warning to its 194 member countries urging them to be vigilant for “criminal activity in relation to falsification, theft and illegal advertising of COVID-19 and flu vaccines.”

Once approved, vaccines will firstly go to vulnerable populations.  Healthcare and frontline workers are among those who will receive the vaccine first, leaving the majority of the population waiting to get the vaccine.  This window of time creates an opportunity for organized crime to infiltrate its distribution.

“As governments are preparing to roll out vaccines, criminal organizations are planning to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains,” Interpol stated.  Interpol Secretary-General Jürgen Stock also explained that, “Criminal networks will also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures, which could pose a significant risk to their health, even their lives… It is essential that law enforcement is 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 this global warning.”

A month ago, the organization warned that organized crime families may also commit theft in order to sell legitimate vaccines to people who would normally have to wait.

Interpol said that the high demand combined with the limited supply makes the COVID-19 vaccines “liquid gold” for organized crime syndicates.

source(s): https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/