In the United States, large-scale fraud involving medical gloves has come to light. Months of CNN investigation points out that tens of millions of gloves were recycled in Thailand and exported to America.
Hygiene has not been observed in recycling: CNN shows photos of gloves with holes, traces of blood and other dirt that were washed and colored with blue dye. Gloves were also offered that were of poor quality, made of the wrong material or not suitable for medical use.
Due to the corona pandemic, the demand for the medical gloves was so great that producers could not keep up. The products are made by specialized companies from scarce raw materials. Fraudsters jumped into that hole.
Trade continued months after warnings
Thai police have already raided sheds, but US authorities have been more hesitant, according to CNN. An importer already reported abuses in February and March of this year, but the Thai company was able to continue to deliver until July. The Americans are having a hard time getting to grips with the illegal trade, because the strict import rules for medical protective equipment have been suspended since the start of the corona pandemic.
According to CNN, the results of its 10-month investigation are “just the tip of the iceberg”. The authorities in the US and Thailand have launched criminal investigations.
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