More than 5,000 surgical masks and hand sanitizers were seized from a grocery store in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Saturday.
According to the police, the store had hoarded these supplies and hidden them in their storeroom. “They had planned to sell the items at overpriced rates after a shortage in the market,” a police officer said.The operation was conducted by the Gulshan police station’s station house officer. The police have started further investigations against the owner of the store.
The demand for hand sanitizer and masks has increased in the market as the two supplies are used as a precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus. Last week, police conducted operations against hoarders of masks and hand sanitizers in different areas of the metropolis and arrested six suspects. According to police sources, on a tip-off, police carried out an operation in Kharadar area and recovered a huge quantity of face masks and of hand sanitizers from a house. The police also apprehended six suspects from the spot.
Police have also filed separate cases against the detainees and started a probe into the matter. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had already warned about hoarding and profiteers of masks, saying that severe action would be taken against those found guilty of hoarding masks and sanitizers. Earlier, Police arrested a man for selling fake vaccines of coronavirus. According to details, the police had arrested the man in the Clifton area as he was spreading fake news regarding the vaccine of coronavirus.
The police also claimed that the suspect had deceived people by claiming to be a doctor and was operating a clinic as well. The police had registered a case against the suspect at the Defence Police station. Pakistan has reported over 1,400 cases of the virus of which most are from Punjab.
