To curb the black marketing of oxygen, medicines and supplies used in the treatment of Covid-19, Nepal Police has been carrying out raids at various stores across the country and making arrests.

In the last six weeks, a total of 37 persons were arrested from across the country for their alleged involvement in black marketing of oxygen, remedevisir, and oximeters, and producing fake hand sanitisers, according to the Nepal Police.

Among those arrested, 12 were involved in the black marketing of oximeters, four in the black marketing of hand sanitisers, three in the black marketing of oxygen cylinders, two were found selling the antiviral drug remdesivir for higher prices, one was involved in the black marketing of sanitisers and oxytometers, one was black marketing in medicines and sanitisers, and one was involved in manufacturing fake hand sanitiser, according to the Nepal Police records.

Similarly, police have arrested eight persons on the charge of making fake polymerase chain reaction reports and five others for misbehaving with the police personnel involved in enforcing the prohibitory orders.

Nepal Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Basanta Bahadur Kunwar said those involved in black marketing in Covid-19 essentials and supplies were arrested after complaints by the members of the public..

In the course of raids, police confiscated 13,756 litres of sanitiser, 25,000 litre of fake sanitiser, 55 oximeters, 765 fake oximeters, 6 vials of remdesivir injection, 1 vial of fake remdesivir injection, 2,000 litre methanol, 3,600 liters of ethanol, 2 fake receipt pads and 46 boxes of several medicines.

According to Kunwar, they plan to destroy the fake sanitiser and fake oximeters and hand over the other useful items to the district administration offices for distribution to hospitals.

“From enforcing prohibitory orders to checking black marketing in coordination with local bodies and government, Nepal Police has been performing its duties efficiently during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Kunwar.

Although Covid-19 cases in Nepal have declined compared to a week ago when Nepal was witnessing record daily cases every day. In the last 24 hours, Nepal has reported 5, 825 new infections with 75 deaths. The country so far has reported 5, 76936 cases out of which 101,839 are active cases.

The death toll has reached 7, 630.

“People were found taking advantage of the crisis and selling the Covid-19 essentials at higher prices to the public, so we have launched a drive to check black marketing,” said Kunwar.

Nepal Police have urged members of the public to contact local bodies or the nearest police stations, if they come across anyone selling Covid-19 essentials at higher prices.