Police seize 1.7 million counterfeit Durex, Jissbon, and Okamoto condoms in Shanxi Province

More fake condoms discovered in China

On Wednesday, police in Yuncheng City in Shanxi Province seized 1.7 million fake condoms from multiple manufacturers in the area.

After receiving a provincial report about counterfeit activity by manufacturers in the area, local food and drug enforcement officers led raids at six locations in Yuncheng City on December 29. They arrested 15 people and seized 1.2 million packaged condoms, 460,000 un-packaged condoms, laminating machines, and over 100,000 empty Durex boxes.

Fake condoms are a problem that China just can’t seem to stamp out. Millions of counterfeits were discovered in Shanghai in 2015, in Jiangxi in 2014, and in Fujian in 2013. In March of 2017, US authorities seized thousands of fakes in Puerto Rico that were made by Chinese manufacturers.

Counterfeit prophylactics are often riddled with holes, and made with hazardous materials that can harm you health and lead to a higher “burst rate.”

So what can you do to ensure the condoms you buy in China are real? First, don’t buy them from small retailers like kiosks or bodegas. The best option is to order from their official stores on Taobao or Jingdong.

Besides that, there are a few simple checks that can usually eliminate the majority of fakes out there. Check that the packaging and plastic wrap is well structured. Check that the logo and other colors and writing on the package are sharp and clear, not faded, blurry, or dull. Look at the bar code and other images on the packaging a check for anything asymmetrical or irregular. The perforation along the edge should be clean, and the expiration date and production code should be clearly printed.

[Images via Netease and China.com]