Federal agents seized one million counterfeit N95 masks on Wednesday as part of a comprehensive investigation into fraud due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the head of the Department of Homeland Security announced.
The seizure brought the total number of shut-off masks confiscated in recent weeks to more than 11 million, Home Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas told a news conference.
Mr. Mayorkas appears next to several boxes of masks seized and stamped with the name 3M, the largest remaining American producer of N95s.
Officials said the company worked with investigators to identify sources of counterfeit masks that were in China and that the department was expected to make arrests.
Officials declined to provide further details about the attacks, citing ongoing investigations. They said federal agents had executed search warrants in five states over the past two weeks, but would not identify which ones.
The tight N95 masks, which are 95 percent effective at filtering air particles, have become the gold standard for frontline workers in the pandemic. But the intense demand for the masks, better regarded as the ubiquitous pleated masks, has given rise to the manufacture of counterfeit N95 masks.
Steve K. Francis, an assistant director of the Global Trade Investigations Division of Homeland Security Investigations, told the news conference that there could be deadly consequences from the sale of counterfeit N95 masks.
“They are extremely dangerous,” he said. Francis said. ‘They offer a false sense of security to our first reaction, American consumers. I can not stress how important it is to ensure that we have the legal 3M N95 masks used for our first reaction. ”
He said the purchase directly from 3M and the company’s authorized suppliers is safe, but that consumers going through other channels could be exposed to fraud.
Mr. Mayorkas said the Department of Homeland Security will continue to aggressively pursue criminals who have exploited the vulnerability of Americans.
“The attacks of these counterfeit surgical masks ensure the health and safety of our frontline health workers, who are fighting the pandemic so bravely by preventing them from receiving inferior personal protective equipment,” he said.
Mr. Mayorkas urged Americans to be careful about the demands made by medical supplies sellers.
“We only urge the public to be aware of websites or individuals selling products that claim to prevent, treat, diagnose or cure Covid-19,” he said.