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Police uncover fake vaccine syndicate
Police have detained ten suspects after uncovering a syndicate responsible for fake vaccines that were to be administered to children below five years of age.
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An elementary school student receives a vaccination as one of her friends looks on at state elementary school SDN 139 in Palembang, South Sumatra. ( Antara /-)
T
he police have detained ten suspects after uncovering a syndicate responsible for fake vaccines that were to be administered to children below five years of age.
National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) director Brig. Gen. Agung Setya said the police received reports of an increasing number of children who had health problems following vaccination, as well as suspicious vaccine shipments to a number of community health centers.
"We analyzed the facts and conducted an investigation that resulted in the arrest of an unlicensed vaccine vendor," Agung said on Thursday as quoted by Kompas.com.
(Read also: Fake vaccines may cause infection: Expert)
The vendor, with the initial J, is the owner of a store, Azka Medical, located on Jl. Raya Karang Santri Nomor 43, in Bekasi, West Java. Following her arrest, the suspect gave the police information that led them to a number of locations where the fake vaccines were allegedly made, namely in Bintaro, East Bekasi and Kemang Regency.
"From the three locations, we have detained nine people, consisting of five producers, two couriers, one label maker and one other vendor," Agung said.
(Read also: Signs to look out for in fake vaccines)
Evidence gathered from the raid include 195 sachets of hepatitis B, 221 bottles of polio vaccine, 55 snake antidote vaccines and a number of documents related to the sale of the vaccines. The 10 suspects will be charged under article 197 of the Health Law and could face a maximum of 15 years in jail and a fine of Rp 1.5 billion (US$113,851). (liz/bbn)
