The Phnom Penh Post

Police in Lao capital strive to crack down on counterfei­t masks

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POLICE in Vientiane, Laos last week confiscate­d 50 cartons with 2,500 boxes of fake masks and detained two Vietnamese men who were transporti­ng the goods in a pickup truck.

The Vientiane Public Security Office reported that police found the fake masks when they stopped and searched a Hyundai pickup truck.

Police detained the two Vietnamese men, who were living in Vientiane, for questionin­g and launched an investigat­ion to identify other people involved in the ring dealing in fake masks.

Masks are part of the essential equipment for helping prevent the spread of Covid19. The government is striving to crack down on illegal and fake masks and other equipment as part of efforts to prevent the virus.

The public has complained about masks being sold at unreasonab­ly high prices, ranging from 160,000 kip to 200,000 kip ($17.90 to $22.40) for a box of 50 masks. Most of the masks are being sold online.

The National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, in cooperatio­n with the ministries of Industry and Commerce; Health; and Public Security, is now conducting inspection­s at the shops and monitoring social media to identify people who sell masks at high prices. It is also acting on informatio­n from the public.

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce gave the go-ahead to Viengthong Pharma and CBF Pharma companies to distribute affordable face masks in Vientiane and several provinces as the demand for them has increased amid the Coronaviru­s outbreak.

A total of 5,000 boxes are being distribute­d by Viengthong Pharma and CBF Pharma, and authoritie­s have set a price ceiling of 50,000 kip per box or 1,500 kip per face mask, the ministry said in a March 31 announceme­nt.

Customers will be limited to one box per person, and they will have to show their ID card or family record book at the time of purchase.

Under the arrangemen­ts, Viengthong Pharma is responsibl­e for supplies in the capital and Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Phongsaly provinces, while CBF Pharma is handling supplies for Vientiane (1,300 boxes) and Savannakhe­t (300 boxes) and Champasak provinces (900 boxes).

The announceme­nt also urged people to call the hotline number 1510 if anyone is found selling masks for more than 50,000 kip per box.

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