Istanbul police seize 1m counterfeit masks

Police in Turkey have raided a workshop in Istanbul making counterfeit, unlicensed face masks for sale to people during the coronavirus outbreak.

The unlicensed premises wasn’t adhering to appropriate manufacturing standards, according to a report from the Sputnik/ANI news service citing Turkish newspaper Hurriyet. Five people have been detained as a result of the raid as the investigation gets underway.

The masks have an estimated value of $500,000. Turkey’s government has said it must procure all masks made in the domestic market for use during the COVID-19 pandemic, warning of penalties if manufacturers don’t comply.

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