Mexican authorities on Thursday, March 18, seized a cargo on a private plane that was allegedly part of Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine “Sputnik V”, but according to Russian officials, the seized cargo is a forgery of vaccines.
The 1,155 ampoules on the plane, which was about to fly to Honduras, were hidden in two refrigerators between ice cream and drinks.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which has supported the development of Sputnik V, has said the alleged vaccines are counterfeit.
“Analysis of the seized batch, including the design and labels of the bottles, suggests that it is a counterfeit substance that has nothing to do with the original vaccine,” the foundation said.
“This is an example of a possible provocation against Sputnik V,” the RDIF said in a statement.
Sputnik V is one of five vaccines approved in Mexico.
The first cargo with 24 million doses was delivered in February.
In Mexico, vaccination of the population began at Christmas, and so far 627,000 people, or 0.5% of the total population, have been vaccinated.
Honduras has also approved a Russian vaccine and announced that it will buy 4.2 million doses.-
The plane was about to fly from Campeche in southeastern Mexico to San Pedro in Honduras, Mexican authorities said.
The flight crew and passengers, all Honduran citizens, were detained.
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