Bogus virus meds flooding markets

THE HAGUE: Millions of counterfeit drugs, medical devices and masks sold as so-called remedies for the new coronavirus are "flooding" markets in response to shortages, Europe's police agency warned Wednesday.

"The distribution of counterfeit or sub-standard goods has been a key area of criminal activity in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Europol spokesman Jan Op Gen Oorth. Millions of products have been taken off the shelves in the past weeks because they inaccurately claimed to cure or protect against the coronavirus. "Counterfeiters are (now) taking advantage of the situation by flooding our markets with counterfeit goods in response to shortages," Oorth said.