Canada’s New Government launches enforcement teams

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Canada’s New Government launches enforcement teams to crack down on counterfeit crime

TORONTO, May, 14 2007 — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, David Dodge, Governor of the Bank of Canada, and Bev Busson, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, today announced the official launch of Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Teams (ICETs) to help fight against organized counterfeiting activity.

“The establishment of the RCMP Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Teams is an important step in combating serious economic crimes, such as the counterfeiting of Canadian bank notes,” said Minister Day. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that once again we are taking action to tackle crime and protect Canadian from counterfeiting crimes.”

“The Bank of Canada strongly supports the implementation of the ICETs. We believe that they will prove to be a critical step in the fight against the serious threat posed by currency counterfeiting,” said Governor Dodge. “Bank note counterfeiting results in a loss of confidence in Canada’s paper money and can undermine the economic health of our country. Maintaining that trust is a job that the Bank of Canada takes very seriously. That is why the Bank has been, and continues to be, committed to partnering with law-enforcement authorities to help deter this harmful criminal activity.”

Working in close collaboration with the Bank of Canada and national and international policing partners, the dedicated ICETs will be located in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, but will have the flexibility to operate anywhere in Canada. Counterfeit specialists affiliated with the teams will also be located in Halifax and Calgary.

"As we already do in so many ways, we will seek out partnership opportunities with other police agencies, as well as share with them information and intelligence regarding counterfeit currency activity across Canada," said RCMP Commissioner Busson. "In fact, the participation of the law enforcement community as a whole is already playing a significant role in combating counterfeit currency."

"Retail Council of Canada is delighted with the Federal Government's commitment to deal with the issue of counterfeit currency which affects both retailers and consumers alike," said Retail Council of Canada President and CEO, Diane Brisebois. "Working together with the RCMP and the Bank of Canada, we have had much success in arresting and prosecuting those who produce and distribute counterfeit currency in Canada and the government's announcement today will further assist in that regard."

Canada’s New Government is committed to giving the RCMP the tools and resources they need to tackle crime. The teams have already started to produce concrete results across the country. For example, in December 2006, a joint RCMP and Quebec police forces investigation took down an operation in Montreal believed to have been responsible for over $600,000 in counterfeit banknotes.

Canada’s New Government, in partnership with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, has also launched www.OrganizedCrime.ca – a website that will help to build public awareness of how organized crime affects the lives of Canadians.

http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/media/nr/2007/nr20070514-2-en.asp

Anyone know of the best person to contact about this?

Huds,

The Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement Team (ICET) is part of the RCMP’s Commercial Crime Section.  I will get you the correct contact information from my law enforcement associates, but my understanding is that the team is comprised of RCMP officers and not civilian members.

You would probably be more interested in the RCMP's Forensic Laboratory Services.  They offer careers for civilian members. 

Counterfeits (Bureau for Counterfeit and Document Examinations):

The Counterfeits Discipline is one component of the Bureau for Counterfeit and Document Examinations. In this Section suspect travel documents (passports, visas, etc.), currency and payment cards are examined to determine if they are genuine, whether they have been altered or are counterfeit. Assistance is provided to investigators in searching printing plants suspected of being connected with counterfeiting activities. Services include:

• conducting forensic examination of Canadian and foreign banknotes and coins and of negotiable instruments (traveller’s cheques, bonds) to establish their authenticity;
  
• conducting classification and database recording of information pertaining to counterfeit banknotes and dissemination of information to the Canadian law enforcement community and to foreign agencies;

• providing forensic examination of travel documents and payment cards suspected of being counterfeit or fraudulently altered; and
• conducting classification and database recording of information pertaining to counterfeit travel documents and payment cards and dissemination of the information to Canadian and foreign law enforcement agencies and to Interpol.

Recent Investigation:

The Counterfeits bureau had received and examined over 38,000 deceptive counterfeit Bank of Canada $100 notes that had originated from the same source and contained the same printing defects. A counterfeit Bank of Canada $20 note was examined and determined to contain similarities to the counterfeit $100 notes. The $20 note had been produced by a person in southern Ontario. The RCMP then began surveillance on the suspect.

Through the efforts of the RCMP Commercial Crime Unit, the OPP and the municipal police, a search was conducted at the suspect’s residence. Computers, printers, dry embossers, foils, paints, inks and paper were seized, in addition to 2,300 Bank of Canada $100 notes in various stages of production. These notes were all classified the same as the 38,000 notes previously examined.

The accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 5 years. His co-accused were sentenced to 2 years each.


If you are interested in a career as a Counterfeits examiner, you must have a Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent degree in science or a science-based professional degree (e.g. engineering).

Here is a link to the careers page for the RCMP Forensic Laboratory Services which employs civilian members as specialists and technologists in six sites across Canada.  These positions require various levels of post-secondary academic training and experience.

http://www.rcmp.ca/fls/careers_general_e.htm

...Arthur