Counterfeit coronavirus test kits valued at $600,000 seized in Ohio, feds say

Customs and Border Protection agents have seized 29,438 counterfeit and prohibited coronavirus testing kits in Cincinnati since mid-March, valued at nearly $600,000, the agency said in a news release.

Criminals at home and abroad have been quick to take advantage of the global health crisis by distributing untested, unapproved, and counterfeit supplies which often go for sale online or through “informal-direct-to-consumer settings,” according to CBP.

Coronavirus testing is critical for the nationwide effort to flatten the curve, as it helps identify infected people who should be quarantined, and allows health officials to estimate how widespread the virus is in a given community or region, health experts and government leaders have said.

“This is basic disease surveillance,” Gregg Gonsalves, a microbial disease epidemiologist at Yale University told FiveThirtyEight. “We can’t begin to control this epidemic unless we know where this is and how many cases we’ve got.”

The importance of safe and accurate testing is not lost on CBP workers.

“Our officers know their role on the frontline is critical to the health and safety of the American people,” said Richard Gillespie, Port Director, Cincinnati. “At a time when the country is in the middle of a National Emergency, our officers are dedicated to protecting our citizens and ensuring their safety.”

The agency is closely monitoring the U.S. mail system, particularly imports, exports, and international mail.

Over 1,100 prohibited coronavirus test kits have been seized at Chicago O’Hare, according to the agency, most of them shipped from Great Britain.

“These products have serious consequences to everyone,” said Hans Leiterman, Assistant Area Port Director, Chicago. “CBP seizures of illegally imported merchandise helps protect the health and safety of U.S. citizens.”

Some items the agency has rounded up may simply be ineffective, or lack FDA approval, but others could prove dangerous, authorities said.

Officers in Louisville, Kentucky, seized 187 Virus Shutout lanyard devices, which falsely promise to protect the user from coronavirus and often contains Chloride Dioxide, a potentially harmful pesticide.

“This pesticide can leech into the skin on contact, cause breathing issues, and lead to additional health concerns for the wearer,” said Thomas Mahn, Port Director, Louisville. “The Shutout devices often lead to a false sense of security and in no way protects the bearer from the coronavirus.”