• Community Events
  • Home
  • Employment
  • Local
    • Central San Diego
    • North County
    • East County
    • South Bay
    • Northeastern
    • Riverside County
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Television
    • Art
    • Theater
    • Film
    • Events
    • Theme Parks
    • Podcast/Radio
    • Museums
    • Books
  • Business
  • National
  • Politics
  • Science & Technology
    • Computer
    • Science
    • Space
  • Sports
  • Environment
    • Clean Air
    • Climate change
    • Land
    • Ocean
    • Pollution
    • Recycling
  • Health
    • Health Business
    • Health Education
    • Medical
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Senior Life
    • Society

San Diego County News

Independent publication serving San Diego County

Feds seize more than 460,000 counterfeit N-95 masks enroute to first responders

March 8, 2021 By sdcnews

More than 460,000 counterfeit 3M N95 surgical masks destined to be used by first responders in the Puget Sound region were seized on Feb. 24 by the Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Border Enforcement Security Task Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI. Photo: Homeland Security Investigations

Seattle, WA–More than 460,000 counterfeit 3M N95 surgical masks destined to be used by first responders in the Puget Sound region were seized Wednesday by Homeland Security Investigations’ Border Enforcement Security Task Force, U.S. Customs, and Border Protection, and the FBI.

The seizure of the counterfeit surgical masks not only ensures the health and safety of frontline health care workers by preventing them from receiving inferior personal protective equipment, it also protects the integrity of the American economy, federal authorities said in a news release.

Homeland Security special agents determined the masks were counterfeit after working with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center and 3M Company.

“Counterfeit surgical masks are a serious threat to the front-line personnel who rely on them as they bravely combat this pandemic. Ensuring the integrity of the PPE supply chain is of utmost importance,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Homeland Security Investigations Seattle is actively engaging with our law enforcement partners to combat the trafficking of counterfeit PPE. 

The counterfeit 3M N95 surgical mask seizure has a manufacturer’s recommended retail price of approximately $587,000. However, there are reported instances where victim organizations have paid high dollar amounts in excess of the retail price to secure masks and other forms of PPE.

Border Enforcement Security Task Force identified seven potential victim organizations that purchased the counterfeit 3M masks. Notifications have been made to all potential victim organizations to prevent counterfeit PPE from being distributed to frontline workers.

“Criminal organizations are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic by selling counterfeit personal protective equipment to unsuspecting American consumers,” said Brian Humphrey, Director of Field Operations for CBP in Seattle. “In conjunction with our law enforcement partners, the vigilant men and women of CBP are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep these unlawful and unsafe products out of our nation’s hospitals and homes.”

Potential criminal violations range from smuggling, trafficking in counterfeit goods, wire fraud, money laundering, theft or fraud in connection with government programs and price gouging.

In the last several weeks, Homeland Security Investigations has conducted enforcement actions across the country that have resulted in the seizure of almost 10 million counterfeit 3M N95 respirators.

Since many of the counterfeit masks are produced abroad, Homeland Security Investigations is also working closely with its international law enforcement partners around the world to pursue leads into sources of supply and prevent shipments of counterfeit products from reaching U.S. shores.

Initial leads came to the Homeland Security Investigations-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center through 3M, which shared reports of suspected counterfeits being purchased by hospitals and government organizations. Homeland Security Investigations mobilized quickly, initiating multi-state investigations into the individuals and organizations looking to profit from the sale and distribution of counterfeit N95 respirators.

At the same time, Homeland Security Investigations and 3M notified about 6,000 suspected victims of the fraud, in at least 12 states, including hospitals, medical facilities and others who may have purchased medical masks from the illicit dealers, urging them to immediately stop using the masks and to contact Homeland Security Investigations immediately.

Since December of 2020, Homeland Security Investigations has initiated over a dozen criminal investigations, across the U.S. and overseas, based on information received from 3M, about millions of counterfeit N95 respirator masks being sold to medical facilities and government agencies for use by hospital workers, first responders and others all over the country. The Cleveland Clinic and Washington State Hospital Association are just two of the many organizations that have reported receiving counterfeit respirators.

40

SHARES
Share on Facebook
Tweet
Follow us

Comments

comments

Filed Under: National Tagged With: national news


Support Independent Journalism



Trending

  • Man convicted of killing San Diego business owner gets life in prison
  • Deputies to conduct Fourth of July DUI patrols
  • Man arrested for possession of 500 pounds of illegal fireworks
  • CA gun owners’ personal information exposed from 2022 Firearms Dashboard, CA Dept. of Justice says
  • Man arrested for attempting to steal a tip jar from a coffee shop

Advertisement

Good Sam Travel Assist

Advertisement

Start LLC today at incorporate.com

Education

Newly elected student board members sworn in at San Diego Unified

San … [Read More...]

Environment

Solana Center for Environmental Innovation receives $20,000 from Las Patronas

By … [Read More...]

Science & Technology

A quarter of the world’s internet users rely on infrastructure at high risk of attack

By … [Read More...]

Advertisement

Independence Day Savings! Save up to $25◊ off our Fees on Flights Use Coupon USA25.

Advertisement

Stacy Adams

Advertisement

Summer Membership offer

Advertisement

Naturepedic

Categories

  • About Us
  • Archive
  • Community Events
  • Contact Us
  • Employment
  • Private Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow @SanCounty

Privacy Policy

Terms of service

Copyright © 2022 San Diego County News