A man has been arrested in the US after an Irish woman alerted police that he was making and selling a bogus Covid-19 treatment.
Activist Fiona O’Leary informed cops in Las Vegas, Nevada, who lifted Elias Daniel Beltran Suarez over his scam on Monday.
Officials said his product posed “significant risks to patient health” after uncovering his makeshift chemical lab to create his bleaching agent treatment.
He claimed it could cure autism, cancer and Covid-19.
He is now facing the charge of acting as a medical practitioner without a licence.
Fiona, from Cork, alerted police on Saturday to the suspect after coming across him on the online platform Telegram and she informed them that he was selling chlorine dioxide.
On Monday, the 53-year-old’s apartment was raided by police where they uncovered his lab.
Fiona, who has three boys with autism, told the Irish Mirror: “This is quite a big story for me because normally the police are really not that active and they have got to go through a process.
“But he’s in custody and he’s facing charges of practising medicine without a licence which has never happened before.
“I nearly fell over really. They rang me... the Las Vegas Police Department and they were asking questions.”
Fiona, who raises awareness for those with autism and fights against dangerous misinformation, added that while she’s happy police took action, she is also “angry” at Suarez’s attempts to target those with conditions.
After searching his home police said: “Detectives observed five-gallon buckets filled with an unknown liquid covered with plastic, another bucket that had tubes coming out of it with a respirator next to it, several glass jars and plexiglass devices.”
They added it appeared to be “indicative of a chemical lab”.
Officers also noted in their report: “His lack of oversight is unlawful and creates a dangerous situation for the community, the patients and public at large.”
Investigators also established the fraudster was advertising his chemicals online and on social media and he had made videos on how to create the substance.
Last night, Fiona claimed: “He is marketing this as a Covid-19 cure and also making a stronger variant for intravenous use, which is shocking.”
