The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and Europol have both issued warnings of organized crime networks luring in members of the public and official vaccine suppliers with fake COVID-19 products both online and offline. 

Interpol issued an Orange Notice early in December last year to law enforcement across its 194 member countries for potential criminal activity involving the falsification, theft and illegal advertising of COVID-19 vaccines.

"Criminal networks will also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures, which could pose a significant risk to their health, even their lives," said Interpol secretary-general Jürgen Stock in a statement.

Speaking to CNN, Stock said that alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a "parallel pandemic of international terrorism" involving organized crime and cybercrime taking advantage of the situation.

"I have never seen in my long career such a dynamic situation where criminals are quickly shifting to new opportunities," he said. "We have been helping two countries on two continents. In one continent, fake vaccines [were] produced, and in another continent distributed, and we have been helping dismantle the criminal gang behind it."

Interpol said it had been aware of cases involving criminals advertising, selling and administering fake vaccines. It pleaded for cooperation between law enforcement and health regulatory bodies to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccine supply chains, as well as identifying illicit websites selling fake products.

Early in December, Europol – full title the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation – also issued an early warning notification for vaccine-related crimes. 

Europol, which is based in The Hague, stated that dark web markets had already begun featuring advertisements for fake COVID-19 vaccines "using the brands of genuine pharmaceutical companies," and warned that these adverts would increase once officially-approved vaccines started to be widely rolled out.

The European law enforcement agency warned of the damage that could be caused by the distribution of illicit vaccines.

"Counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines may represent a significant public health threat if they are ineffective at best or toxic at worst, given their production in underground labs without hygiene standards," Europol's warning said. 

Targeting supply chains

It also stated that there is a risk facing vaccine supply chains, which could be targeted by criminal groups. "Counterfeit vaccines may circulate on illicit markets or be introduced to the legal market, as occurs regularly with other counterfeit pharmaceuticals," the police agency said.

"For example, criminals may resort to illegally refilling empty vials. Therefore, procedures for the correct disposal of vials by grinding or incineration will have to be properly enforced."

Both Interpol and Europol urged member states to share relevant information and remain on heightened alert. They also urged the public to never attempt to secure a COVID-19 vaccine online, and to only get vaccinated at certified vaccination centers.