RCMP bust ‘sophisticated’ ID forgery lab in Lower Mainland

RCMP officers arrested a man after searching his Lower Mainland residence and finding a sophisticated identification forgery lab.

The search was conducted on Dec. 22, 2022, in Richmond, according to an RCMP media release.

Evidence consistent with a sophisticated ID forgery operation was discovered by officers who entered the residence. Police seized high-end printers capable of forging the security features in government ID, thousands of blank ID cards, stolen mail and documents, and numerous electronic devices.

The man was released with conditions and the investigation is ongoing.

“Anyone who has ever been the victim of identity theft knows how awful and violating it can be to figuratively have ‘you’ stolen,” RCMP Insp. Michael Cohee said in the release.

“There are many levels to identity theft starting with mail containing personal information being stolen to fake identities being made and sold to other people. It is an intricate and complicated web often with links to organized crime.”

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported that over $383 million was lost to fraud in 2021.

“This is a staggering amount of money. As police, we see the faces of the victims and the devastating impact it can have on them,” Insp. Cohee said. “From education to enforcement, like this investigation, we are doing everything we can to protect our community.”

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