The Canada Border Services Agency has intercepted a package resulting in its largest seizure of counterfeit money in more than two decades.
Authorities seized $1 million in counterfeit Canadian banknotes at the border this April. Police executed a search warrant at a residence in Gatineau, Qué., before arresting and questioning a man and a woman, “who are expected to face charges shortly,” according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which was also involved in the investigation.
The National Anti-Counterfeiting Bureau (NACB), which belongs to the RCMP’s National Forensic Laboratory Services, is tasked with examining and destroying all counterfeit banknotes seized in Canada. The NACB identified the recently seized bills as “novelty” notes imported from abroad via an unidentified website.
The RCMP described novelty notes as “reproductions” of genuine notes with different images or text. “These counterfeit banknotes are similar in colour and appearance to genuine banknotes.” It was the largest seizure of counterfeit banknotes “with anticipated charges” since 2001, according to the RCMP.
“The RCMP would like to remind the public that it is illegal to possess banknotes that resemble genuine banknotes, even if they are of poor quality, and even if they come from legitimate Internet websites.”