The Bank of Canada has announced the recipient of its 2009 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence.

The RCMP’s National Anti-Counterfeiting Bureau (NACB) and its staff were honoured Tuesday during the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Accepting the award on behalf of the NACB were RCMP Assistant Commissioner Peter Henschel – director general, forensic science and identification services, and Shawki Elias – NACB program manager.

“The NACB, a specialized law enforcement service, was selected for its critical behind-the-scenes role in providing essential forensic services and support to front-line law enforcement personnel across Canada,” the Bank of Canada said.

The NACB has built a solid reputation among the law enforcement community for expert analysis, trusted guidance, and professional support in the field of counterfeit and document examination.

“Not only do these individuals perform a valuable service by informing us about the latest counterfeiting techniques and trends, their excellent work ultimately leads to the identification and dismantling of counterfeiting operations and the prosecution of those who perpetrate such crimes,” said Gerry Gaetz, chief of the currency department at the Bank of Canada.

“The Bank of Canada would like to congratulate the NACB for its important contribution to the investigation, deterrence, and prosecution of currency counterfeiting,” Gaetz added.

The award was established in 2004 to recognize the work of Canadian law-enforcement personnel in deterring and preventing the counterfeiting of Canada’s bank notes.

IE