More than 6,000 counterfeit masks which were destined for Kingston, Jamaica from Hong Kong, were intercepted by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Cincinnati, US.
It was reported by CBP that on December 6, an incoming shipment of 38 boxes containing 6,080 masks labelled as 3M Disposable Respirators Model 8210 was inspected by its officers.
Discrepancies were discovered as the shipment did not match the requirements for the “3M Safe Guard product authentication process”, CBP stated, according to a Fox19 News report.
Additionally, CBP said the boxes were reportedly labelled as “Made in US even though they were imported through a freight forwarder in Hong Kong”.
Following the inspections, it was determined by officers that the masks were counterfeit.
Cincinnati Port Director, Richard Gillespie, said in light of current health concerns in the United States, officers have amplified efforts to find fake medical supplies.
“Counterfeit masks like these are not tested using the same quality control standards as the genuine product, and it is unlikely they will perform in the same manner as the genuine product was designed to do…,” stated Gillespie.
If the shipment of masks was genuine, it would have a collective manufacturer’s suggested retail price value of US$6,688 (about J$989,824).
