The European police agency Europol on Monday, February 1, warned travelers against the system of sale in airports of false certificates of negative Covid-19 tests by organized crime, for sums of up to 300 euros room.

This warning comes after the arrest of several suspects selling fake certificates of non-contamination at airports in Britain and France, as well as online or through courier groups in Spain and the Netherlands .

Many member countries of the European Union and others are now demanding proof that passengers are not infected with the disease which has killed more than 2.2 million people worldwide.

"It is very likely that criminals will seize the opportunity to produce and sell fake Covid-19 test certificates as long as travel restrictions are maintained due to the pandemic," Europol believes.

"Given the extent of the technological means available with high quality printers and various software, counterfeiters are able to produce high quality false or counterfeit documents", adds the agency, based in The Hague (Netherlands). .

Ten days ago, a man suspected of selling fake Covid-19 certificates of non-contamination was arrested at Luton airport in Britain.

In early November, French police arrested seven people in connection with the dismantling of trafficking in false certificates of negative Covid-19 tests bearing the name of an existing laboratory, sold at prices ranging from 150 to 300 euros at travelers at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, near Paris.

In Spain, police arrested a man selling fake documents like this for 40 euros online, and in the Netherlands traffickers were doing the same using mobile phone messaging apps.

"The detection of false certificates of negative tests for Covid-19 confirms that criminals, whether they are organized crime groups or individual crooks, seize the opportunity as soon as it appears", emphasizes Europol.

With AFP

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