Editor’s note: This story originally stated that $300 worth of counterfeit money was seized. This story has been updated to report the correct amount.
Red Deer RCMP say a 25-year-old man is facing a handful of charges after three shotguns and over $3,000 worth of counterfeit currency was seized in the city earlier this month.
The weapons and fake Canadian bills were located in the community of Johnstone Crossing on Oct. 19.
It all started when officers located a stolen Honda Civic that RCMP said had “fled police on several occasions” and been involved in a number of “criminal files.”
RCMP arrested the driver and pursued two other people who had been in the vehicle as they ran inside a nearby apartment complex.
Officers weren’t able to locate the suspects but did find a shotgun abandoned in the stairwell of the building.
RCMP said two more shotguns were then found inside the Civic, one of which was loaded, and numerous rounds of ammunition.
Police also seized 37 counterfeit Canadian $100 bills and 12 counterfeit Canadian $20 bills from the Civic. The counterfeit currency looks like Canadian polymer bills but is printed on paper, and each bill has Chinese characters on it.
According to the RCMP, similar bills have been seized by police departments across Canada in recent months. However, this is the first seizure of the fake bills in Red Deer.
The driver of the vehicle is facing numerous criminal charges. The RCMP said his name will be released once those charges have been sworn before the courts.
Anyone with information is asked to call Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575 or contact Crime Stoppers.