This week in counterfeiting news

WHO flags fake Covishield jabs in India, Africa: The doses were seized by authorities in India and Africa between July and August, a WHO statement said. It also said the vaccine's maker, Serum Institute of India, confirmed that the doses were fake. The WHO warned that fake vaccines “pose a serious risk to global public health". It called for their removal from circulation. There has been no official statement by the Indian government, but local reports said the country's health ministry was investigating the matter.

Two held with counterfeit currencies: Theni, Tamil Nadu police arrested two persons and seized a large number of counterfeit currencies in the denomination of 2,000, 500, 100 and 50 in Uthamapalayam recently. Following specific input, a special team had been keeping a watch in Uthamapalayam and surrounding areas for two days after alerting check-posts. The police intercepted a two-wheeler at Anaimalayanpatti near Rayapanpatti and conducted inquiries with the rider, Kannan, 35, of TTV Dhinakaran Colony. They found a few counterfeit currencies in his possession. Based on his confession, they detained another person, Alexander, 42, of Anaimalayanpatti, who reportedly had a good number of counterfeit currencies. The face value of the notes in different denominations was close to Rs 20 lakh. The police said the duo could be members of a bigger network.

Counterfeit pesticides, fertilisers seized in Ludhiana: The district department of agriculture and farmers welfare raided the warehouse of a fertiliser trader on Lakhowal Kuhara Road in Koom Kalan recently and seized large quantities of counterfeit pesticides and fertilisers. Narinder Singh Benipal, chief agriculture officer, Ludhiana, said the department had received complaints that counterfeit material was being sold at the warehouse using various brand names. The trader was found selling fake chlorpyrifos, hydrochloride, fipronil and triacontanol using the name of Orchid Agro Systems, Universal Specialty Chemicals Private Limited. The department seized and sealed the material, and booked Rahul, Rajiv, Hakim, Manish Gupta, Amit Kumar and Pradeep Kumar under Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985; Sections 3, 7 and 9 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955; Sections 13, 17, 18 and 33 of the Insecticides Act; Section 9 of the Insecticides Rules as well as relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Four held with counterfeit branded watches: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police arrested four persons with counterfeit watches of premium international brands after raiding a shopping centre at Tardeo in south Mumbai. Police seized Rs 16,45,000 from the accused after raiding four commercial units located in the shopping centre.