Counterfeit condoms spread fear
- Source: Global Times
- [03:42 November 10 2009]
- Comments
Fakes are often of foreign brands such as Durex, with officials reporting that a third of the condom market in some areas comprises knock-offs.(Xinhua photo)
By Song Shengxia
It's something most people don't think about. A condom is a condom. Just remembering to wear one during the throes of passion is often viewed as a victory.
But STDs aside, sex in China is made that much more dangerous by the rampant spread of knock-off prophylactics that offer little to no protection, despite often being labeled with quality brand names.
Back in July, police raided an underground workshop producing fake and non-sterile condoms. Chinese media reported the bust this week amid an ongoing investigation by police intent on making more arrests, but such factories are said to be more common than people may think.
Police said they have yet to track down about a million condoms believed to have been produced at the workshop in Shaoyang, Hunan Province. They've already been distributed throughout the country, and many have undoubtedly been used in the act, raising the risk of pregnancy and disease.
According to official figures, more than 2 billion condoms are used annually in China.
Fakes are often of foreign brands such as Durex, with officials reporting that a third of the condom market in some areas comprises knock-offs.
The best way to avoid getting a phony rubber, officials say, is to buy them from only branded supermarkets or pharmacies.
China Youth Daily reported Monday that four people were arrested at the bust in Shaoyang, and it was said to be a well-organized operation. Inside the 20-sqaure-meter underground workshop, shirtless workers were found lubricating condoms with vegetable oil to make them smooth and shiny before placing them directly in a fiber bag without sterilization.
Li Anping, a Shaoyang resident and head of the illegal workshop, was arrested July 24 in connection with producing the counterfeit condoms.
Since March, Li had allegedly manufactured about 2.16 million unsterilized condoms labeled with Jissbon, Durex, Rough Rider, "Six Sense," "Love Card" and "NOX." More than 1 million condoms had already been sold, generating approximately 80,000 yuan ($11,720).
"This is by far the largest case involving producing and selling fake condoms in Hunan Province," Tan Peng, a police officer with the Shaoyao Public Security Bureau, told the Global Times Monday. "We have preliminarily tracked the upstream operations to Dongguan in Guangdong Province."
Most fake condoms were sold either online or to distributors in Beijing, Dongguan, Jieyang and Southeast Asia, the officer said. The remaining ones were allegedly sold to Li's clients, but authorities say he hadn't given any names.
