Bank of Canada Announces the Recipient of its 2012 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence

The Bank of Canada is pleased to announce the recipient of its 2012 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence. The RCMP Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team, based in Surrey, British Columbia, was honoured for the second consecutive year during the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Accepting the award on the unit’s behalf were Inspector Ian Lawson, the officer in charge of the RCMP’s Commercial Crime Section, and Constable John Shandro, an investigator on the Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team.

The thirteen members of the RCMP’s “E” Division were selected for their successful dismantling of a major counterfeit currency operation in Richmond, British Columbia, on 11 December 2011. The investigators acted on a tip regarding the production of counterfeit Canadian $100 bank notes in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. Investigators were able to identify and arrest four individuals. The investigation resulted in the seizure of nearly $1.2 million in partially completed counterfeit currency.

“This most effective investigation resulted in the shutting down of a major counterfeiting operation before a single note could enter circulation - the best possible outcome,” said Gerry Gaetz, Chief of the Bank of Canada’s Currency Department.  “That this year’s winners also won last year is a tribute to the excellence and dedication that have become the trademarks of this team.”

The Bank of Canada’s Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence was established in 2004 to recognize the work of Canadian law-enforcement personnel in deterring and preventing the counterfeiting of Canada’s bank notes.

Note to Editors

A photo from the awards ceremony is available on the CNW Group’s Canada NewsWire.