Millions of counterfeit masks seized during operation in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine – More than two million counterfeit N95 masks purchased by the State of Maine were seized June 16, by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents. The seizure was the result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by multiple HSI Offices and United States Attorney’s Offices across the United States.

The counterfeit N95 masks were purchased by the State of Maine over a series of transactions occurring in late 2020 and early 2021. HSI worked with the State of Maine and 3M to verify the masks fraudulent origin. HSI and law enforcement partners work together regularly to prevent dangerous counterfeit products from reaching U.S. consumers.

National Effort

Since 2020, HSI has conducted enforcement actions across the country that have resulted in the seizure of almost 10 million counterfeit 3M N95 respirators.

Since many of the counterfeit masks are produced abroad, HSI is also working closely with its international law enforcement partners around the world to pursue leads into sources of supply and prevent shipments of counterfeit products from reaching U.S. shores.

Initial leads came to the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center through 3M, which shared reports of suspected counterfeits being purchased by hospitals and government organizations. HSI mobilized quickly, initiating multi-state investigations into the individuals and organizations looking to profit from the sale and distribution of counterfeit N95 respirators.

At the same time, HSI and 3M notified about 6,000 suspected victims of the fraud, in at least 12 states, including hospitals, medical facilities and others who may have purchased medical masks from the illicit dealers, urging them to immediately stop using the masks and to contact HSI immediately.

Since December of 2020, HSI has initiated over a dozen criminal investigations, across the U.S. and overseas, based on information received from 3M, about millions of counterfeit N95 respirator masks being sold to medical facilities and government agencies for use by hospital workers, first responders and others all over the country. The Cleveland Clinic and Washington State Hospital Association are just two of the many organizations that have reported receiving counterfeit respirators.

The HSI investigative actions are in addition to the efforts of Customs and Border Protection to identify and interdict these counterfeits at the border. HSI’s goal is to extend the border outward and intercept counterfeits before they have a chance to enter the U.S. and put frontline workers at risk.

HSI has strengthened its relationship with 3M and their counterfeit fraud team as part of HSI efforts launched under Operation Stolen Promise in April. Due to this relationship, 3M provided information that helped HSI, law enforcement and the public to identify counterfeit 3M respirators.

Operation Stolen Promise

HSI launched Operation Stolen Promise in April 2020, to protect U.S. consumers from the increasing and evolving threat posed by the pandemic. The operation involves various federal agencies, including CBP, FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and multiple private sector partners, including Pfizer, 3M, Amazon and others.

Operation Stolen Promise combines ICE HSI’s expertise in global trade, financial fraud, international operations and cybercrime to investigate financial fraud schemes, the importation of prohibited pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, offending e-commerce schemes and any other illicit criminal activities associated with the COVID-19 virus that may compromise legitimate trade, financial systems and/or endangers the public.

For more information or to report COVID fraud, visit the Operation Stolen Promise website.

HSI Upholding Fairness in Global Trade

Investigating Intellectual Property Crime, Trade Fraud, And Export Violations

HSI protects legitimate trade and commercial systems by investigating intellectual property crime, combating trade fraud and preventing the illicit proliferation of sensitive U.S. technology and weapons.

Through the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center, HSI spearheads the U.S. government’s response to investigating and preventing intellectual property rights violations, digital piracy, illicit trade and customs fraud. These efforts protect U.S. industry, the U.S. consumer and the safety of the American public from the adverse economic impact and health dangers posed from introducing counterfeit products into U.S. commerce.

The HSI counter-proliferation investigations program prevents the illicit procurement and export of sensitive U.S. technology and weapons and sanctions evasion by U.S. adversaries. HSI’s work in this area protects the U.S. warfighter, advances strategic defense interests and safeguards U.S. national security.

HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 Special Agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.