RCMP & CBSA work together in order to arrest an individual involved in the Importation of US Counterfeit Currency

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 9, 2016 /CNW/ - The RCMP's Greater Toronto Area Financial Crime Integrated Counterfeit Enforcement team (GTA FC ICET) has arrested and charged a male after he was found to have in his custody in excess of $130,000 of US counterfeit one-hundred dollar bills.

On May 5, 2016, a male traveller was intercepted by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. Border services officers, acting on a referral from the CBSA National Targeting Centre, identified the traveller returning from Ghana and referred him for secondary examination. The officers subsequently discovered the US counterfeit notes concealed within the inner lining of three handbags.    

The RCMP were immediately contacted and investigators from GTA FC ICET attended the Toronto Pearson International Airport and arrested Christian-John DHJARNGBO (age 36) of Ottawa. DHJARNGBO was charged with unlawful introduction of counterfeit money into Canada and unlawful custody of counterfeit money contrary to the Criminal Code. DHJARNGBO made a first court appearance on May 6, 2016, at the Ontario Court of Justice, Brampton, Ontario and a bail hearing has been scheduled for May 11, 2016 at the request of the Crown.

"The RCMP is committed to working pro-actively with other domestic and international partners in a joint effort to counteract counterfeit activity." stated Sgt. Vance Morgan, the acting Officer in Charge of the RCMP's GTA Financial Crime teams located in Milton, Ontario.

"This interdiction is the result of strong partnerships supporting integrated law enforcement at Canada's ports of entry.  CBSA officers will remain vigilant and employ all available resources to protect Canada's economy," said Goran Vragovic, Regional Director General of the CBSA in the Greater Toronto Area Region.

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SOURCE Royal Canadian Mounted Police

RCMP Media Contact: Sgt. Penny Hermann, Media Relations, RCMP "O" Division (Ontario), 416-992-4409; CBSA Media Contact: CBSA Media Relations, Greater Toronto Area, 905-803-2800