PHOENIX — Officials say in excess of 200,000 counterfeit 3M N95 surgical masks meant for hospital personnel have been confiscated by Homeland Stability Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP).
Immigrants and Custom made Enforcement (ICE) officers say in Oct, as element of “Operation Stolen Assure,” federal officers at Sky Harbor intercepted a shipment intended for a neighborhood business and identified it contained 3M N95 masks. Officials say soon after examining the masks, it was decided they have been counterfeit.
Officers afterwards identified this modest company was conducting transactions with a linked company less than investigation for marketing counterfeit masks.
Whilst investigating the enterprise, brokers uncovered the very same counterfeit 3M N95 masks as the ones secured at the airport. Officials say a lot more than 20,000 counterfeit 3M N95 masks had been seized at the firm’s warehouse.
Officers say agents through their investigation, recalled and seized an further 10 pallets containing 95,480 counterfeit 3M N95 masks that were currently transported to hospitals during the nation for healthcare workers use.
ICE HSI launched Procedure Stolen Promise in April to shield U.S. shoppers from the escalating and evolving threat posed by the pandemic.
