Customs authorities, in coordination with the Army, seized on 17 March a batch of 5 thousand 775 doses, apparently of the Sputnik V vaccine, at Campeche International Airport, which were intended to be transferred on a private ship to Honduras.
Russia clarified this morning that vaccines seized in that state are fake.
“Analysis of photographs of the seized batch, including packaging and label design, suggests that it is a fake substance that has nothing to do with the original vaccine,” he said.
The shipping procedure, detailed, also violated the packaging and transport protocols of the official Sputnik V vaccine.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (DRIF) explained that each batch of Sputnik V undergoes strict controls and each bottle contains a QR code that makes it unique and allows it to be traced to the place of origin.
A batch of fake Sputnik V vaccines was confiscated in Mexico. See this comparison of the genuine #SputnikV with a fake version.
The full story was published earlier today. pic.twitter.com/mO5UcotlLp
— Sputnik V (@sputnikvaccine) March 18, 2021
The thousand 155 bottles of the alleged vaccine were in two ice-packs, hidden between treats and soft drinks, the Tax Administration Service (SAT) reported in a statement.
However, on 24 March the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic (FGR) stated that a thousand 62 packs had been detected, which were transported on a Cessna aircraft, where seven individuals of Honduran nationality were also travelling.
Sat
In the not being legally certain of the contents of such bottles, Customs staff only made available to the Public Prosecutor’s Office the icebox with the packaging and the aircraft.
On 18 March, Cofepris was asked to analyse the packaging. She replied that she needed more information, so three days later, on March 21, she was sent to her; however, to date, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has not received the expert opinion of the unit.
How were the vaccines seized in Campeche verified to be fake? pic.twitter.com/qN0zWxysvD
— Political Animal (@Pajaropolitico) March 24, 2021
Escape detainees
Although the Prosecutor’s Office asked the National Migration Institute (INM) for immigration alert for the pilot and passengers, initially placing them in a hotel in Campeche, the entity itself said that those involved “left evading surveillance”, without giving further details.
This, while obtaining a response from Cofepris on packaging analysis.
“As soon as that condition is met, which is absolutely essential to prosecute the case, it will proceed in accordance with law,” the FGR reported.
The Russian Ministry of Health and government entities will cooperate with Mexican authorities in this investigation and analysis of the content of the fake vaccine.
The staff @AduanasMx made available to #MP the icebox with the packaging and the aircraft, so the research folder was opened; the migrant alert @INAMI_mx the pilot and passengers was requested from the airport, placing them in a hotel, from which they evaded surveillance.
— FGR Mexico (@FGRMexico) March 24, 2021
In Mexico, 200,000 doses of Sputnik V were applied in the Tláhuac, Xochimilco and Iztacalco mayoralties in Mexico City. And from 17 March the second dose of this vaccine has been applied to older adults.
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