2 Chinese men arrested with 45,000 fake Covid-19 test kits
Police Lieutenant General Permpun Chitchob the Assistant Commissioner – General along with officials from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported the latest arrests in relation to the COVID-19 situation in Thailand.
The suspects had a large pile of evidence against them including medical masks, hand sanitizer, and fake COVID-19 test kits. These items were being sold without permission at high prices in Bangkok and nearby.
There are 5 cases from 22 March – 2 April 2020 with evidence of 55,000 fake COVID-19 test kits, 350,000 medical masks, 1,200 infrared thermometers, 53,000 liters of alcohol, 7,896 bottles of fake hand sanitizer, and 8,271 cosmetic items. The pile of evidence is worth at least 50 Million THB.
One of the big cases involves 2 Chinese suspects named Chen Lei and Wein Pinpin. The suspects were arrested inside a home in Phra Khanong District, Bangkok.
Officials received information that fake COVID-19 test kits had been smuggled into the country. In this case, the evidence against Chen and Wein included 1. 45,000 fake COVID-19 test kits, 2. 350,000 medical masks, and 3. 1,200 infrared thermometers, the evidence is worth 33,750,000 THB.
The FDA will be investigating to find out where these fake COVID-19 test kits are made, and who else is involved in bringing them into the country.
The punishment for smuggling in medical equipment is imprisonment up to 1 year, a fine not exceeding 100,000 THB or both. All products claiming to be COVID-19 test kits online are currently all fake.
Only specific medical personnel are allowed direct access to the equipment. A person with COVID-19 might use these test kits and receive a negative result for the test, this creates a misunderstanding and can further spread the virus.
It is advised to purchase medical masks and thermometers from trustable sources, this is for the protection of your own health and those around you.
