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Bloomberg
A Swiss retailer is crying foul after a truckload of hand sanitiser it had ordered was commandeered by Italian customs officers.
The shipment of disinfectant gel, purchased by Victory Switzerland GmbH for 32,000 euros ($34,800), was stopped by officials on March 30, according to Daniel Gerber, the company’s managing director. “I am not aware of any compensation for us,†Gerber said.
Italy confirmed the seizure in an April 3 statement, saying officials were authorised to confiscate individual protection devices and sanitary equipment considered essential in the coronavirus pandemic.
The capture of the Swiss-bound cargo is just the latest example of countries moving to secure medical supplies, sanitary items and essential goods for their own citizens amid the global pandemic.