Fake COVID-19 test kits seized at LAX

[IceWizard]

Photo by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Posted: Mar 14, 2020 / 05:46 PM CDT / Updated: Mar 14, 2020 / 05:46 PM CDT


LOS ANGELES (KSEE/KGPE) — Customs officers intercepted a package 
at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday containing suspected 
counterfeit COVID-19 test kits arriving from the United Kingdom, 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Saturday.

CBP officers found six plastic bags containing various vials while 
examining a package labeled “Purified Water Vials” with a 
declared value of $196.81.

A complete examination led officers to find vials filled with a 
white liquid and labeled “Corona Virus 2019nconv (COVID-19)” 
and “Virus1 Test Kit,” said Jaime Ruiz, Branch Chief for 
CBP’s Office of Public Affairs.

The shipment was turned over to the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration for analysis.

Ruiz said the public should be aware of bogus home testing 
kits for sale either online or in informal direct to consumer settings.

Authorized diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is conducted in 
verified state and local public health laboratories across the U.S

[Charon]

Do the evil ever stop? Seems no in these troubled times. Fake testing kits for a panademic occurance?

How cruel and disgusting and may u rot in jail for this sick trick. You, sirs, disgust me.

[G.Elias]

Typical,a scammer from the UK,its the fake capital of the world,for such a small country theres a hell of a lot of greedy selfish little shits,horrible.

[Charon]

And, used face masks, and gloves, are being removed from the special sanitation containers and are being sold online, on corners.

Sometime around Sept it will appear to be stopping. And that is when the still infected aspect arises. I am not a dr of medicine but have been reading many of them. And the people this has affected. It comes back to ravage what is left i reckon. Never dreamed God's children would have to go thru this. Rapture, please.

[BeReel1010]

This is horrible! It’s bad enough that people are being greedy with other necessities, but this is low. Shame on the sender and the person who ordered these bunk tests. With that amount of tests they most likely were going to try and sell them for profit. I read the other day that a couple guys went out and bought around 17k products of antibacterial, Lysol, TP etc - wiping out their small town, few surrounding towns and started selling on Amazon to make profits. That in turn made Amazon shut down almost all sellers of these items making it even harder for people who can’t leave their house to get. This is the time we need to be there for one another, not be trying to scam.

[folken]

I hope LE is on top of this crazy stuff. 
Fake testing kits is a new low in my experience anyway.

What is a regular person to do? 

Panic and anxiety is on display all across the country and on the news. < I am tired of the constant news cycle about it- but I understand it is needed >

Sister has compromised immune system due to Lupus and recent surgery on her neck < because her bones are so fragile now >
Mom is elderly and has significant sight problems- almost blind.

Every time I feel a scratchy throat I get feel some blood pressure rise.

Churches here are now closed- to keep below 300 people together.

Got to pray in silence now.

The usual comforts of gatherings and touches are no longer available

I have no real suggestions---beyond the don't panic mode--  which makes me feel inadequate. 

Sheesh!!....¯\_(ツ)_/¯

.......................Folken

[barq2]

I would hope it gets bounced back to the UK so police/customs can investigate. It might be quite hard to prosecute unless they have already been sold as test kits. I think it needs a sale for it to be fraud although it might be prosecuted as a "conspiracy". Also depends on where it came from in the UK, so is it under English and Welsh law, or Scottish? For once I'm so grateful for customs! I really hope they get what they deserve. It is far worse than profiteering over hand gel - at least that is hand gel - this is really evil.

Charon, could this be prosecuted on your side of the Atlantic? I assume it has to come back to the UK?

[Charon]

I don't know. Differing agencies are now in charge. We are not getting news on any of this.

In 99, the big scandal was that morticians and their cronies were giving organs as newly donated to people in need. In fact they had been removed from the deceased. And pharmacies purchased meds for cancer treatment from sources.

And we really followed it as me sister was being treated for stage iv cancer. We learned only five % of the impt ingrediant was in the chemo meds. She never lost her hair. I was her caregiver. But she lived.

I follow cases and i never saw those people prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

And now? God only knows what the hell is going on. If i read any currently practicing law, as with my autoimmunes my memory has been affected, I shall post it here.

[G.Elias]

Read the guy/s selling the handwash on amazon for silly high price have been 'contacted' by police,going to be in a lot of trouble apparently.
I bet those test kits were knocked up where i live,its known as the fake capital of all sorts,its a massive business here,warehouses full of fake goods.
Its one thing selling dodgy gucci bags,but messing with life will make em popular when they get sent down by the judge.

Getting a bit crazy all this,now Trumps tried to get the Germans to send him all the vaccines to the US only,unbelievable that guy.