Turkish law enforcement has detained 462 people for allegedly manufacturing unlicensed or fake medical products, the Diken news website reported on Thursday.
In a written statement the country’s interior ministry said the operations targeted people involved in the unauthorized production of disinfectants, cologne, respiratory masks and other medical supplies.
The detentions took place across 65 cities, according to the report.
Turkey has confirmed nearly 40,000 cases of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus. The government announced that it will hand out free masks to all, although the distribution process has been marred by confusion.