Two people suspected of passing counterfeit currency have been arrested and charged and nearly $12,000 worth of fake Canadian and American bills have been seized, Prince George RCMP said Tuesday.
Cole Patrick McIntyre-Hartwick, 20, remains in custody on six counterfeit-related charges while a minor faces two counts and has been released on documents to appear in court at a later date. McIntyre-Hartwick recently moved to Prince George from Alberta.
Police said the arrests stem from an investigation that began last Monday, March 19, centered on the production and distribution of counterfeit Canadian $100 bills.
On Thursday, a Prince George RCMP municipal traffic services member pulled over a suspicious vehicle in the 1700 block of 8th Avenue. Seventeen counterfeit $50 US bills were seized and two of the occupants were arrested.
RCMP followed up the next day by executing a search warrant on a motel room in Bear Lake where over $8,000 in counterfeit Canadian $100 bills and over $2,500 in counterfeit American $50 bills, were seized.
"Investigators believe that there is approximately $2,000 in counterfeit Canadian $100 bills still in circulation in Prince George," RCMP said. "If examined, the bills will show obvious signs of being counterfeit and all show the same serial number, EKR2223601.
The investigation is continuing and further arrests and charges are possible, RCMP said.
The arrests are not related to another investigation into counterfeit currency that saw RCMP arrest two women in College Heights last week. Charges have not yet been laid in that investigation.
