Delta Police officers stopped two people this week from re-selling boxes of N95 face masks and surgical masks at highly inflated prices.
The BC Public Safety Minister issued a ministerial order March 26 under the Emergency Program Act, banning the secondary resale of medical supplies and personal protective equipment.
A constable with the Delta Police Crime Reduction Unit, which typically focuses on stolen property, was proactively looking through online ads when she came upon an individual looking to re-sell N95 masks. She reached out, and arranged to buy a quantity of masks at a price of $15 per individual mask, plus a $300 “delivery fee.”
“Our Crime Reduction Unit follows crime trends, and it’s troubling to see people trying to flout the ministerial order during this pandemic,” says Cris Leykauf, spokesperson for Delta Police.
Prior to meeting with the seller on April 2, police contacted Delta Bylaws to determine what bylaw offences would apply in these circumstances.
The seller, a Burnaby resident, showed up to the pre-arranged location, driving a luxury vehicle. A police officer approached the man and informed him he would be receiving a $500 bylaw ticket for operating with no business license. Police took possession of 60 masks, for which the seller was asking $1,200.
Masks seized by Delta Police
On April 3 police arranged to meet a separate seller, this one selling surgical masks. In this instance police had arranged to purchase 3,000 surgical masks for $2,200. This seller as well was given a $500 bylaw ticket.
Both sellers voluntarily relinquished the masks to police, with the second seller relinquishing an additional 2,300 masks. In total police took possession of 5,360 masks between April 2-3.
Delta Police will be working with the Fraser Health Authority to determine how the masks can best be put to use.