Mounties in Surrey, B.C., say they've dismantled the biggest counterfeit currency lab in British Columbia's history.
In total, $220,000 in counterfeit American and Canadian notes was seized from a home on 151B Avenue on May 14. Police also seized several computers and production equipment.
Four people are now facing various charges.
Coquitlam resident Richard Thomas McGaw, 30, and Surrey's Jesko Stefan Lindt, are both charged with making and possessing counterfeit banknotes and for possessing instruments for making counterfeit banknotes. McGaw also faces charges for breaching his bail conditions and will remain in police custody.
Two others, a 55-year-old man and 28-year-old woman, have been released from custody with a promise to appear in court at a later date.
Investigators did not provide details on how they tracked down the four suspects.
Last year, B.C. accounted for nine per cent of all fake currency being passed across Canada. Figures from the Bank of Canada National Statistics section show the amount of $20 counterfeits increased by 24 per cent from February 2009.
Police attribute part of this increase to McGaw and Lindt, who they say were responsible for many large operations. Now that the two are caught, they predict circulation of fake currency will fall, Sgt. Farahbakhchian of the B.C. Federal Commercial Crime Section said.
"I am confident that this counterfeit currency lab take down will significantly reduce the counterfeit banknotes in BC because these increases were predominantly linked back to Mr. McGaw and Mr. Lindt's counterfeit operations,"
