FORT MCMURRAY — Wood Buffalo RCMP say a specialized financial crime unit launched six months ago has laid more than 80 criminal charges, identified millions of dollars in lost capital and linked several national and international criminal networks to local activity.
The Financial Crime Unit was launched as a one-year pilot project in April to focus on embezzlement, misappropriation, fraud and money laundering affecting the region.
RCMP say investigators have been working with police agencies across Canada, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, known as FINTRAC, and Canadian financial institutions to trace money connected to suspected criminal activity.
“Our Financial Crime Unit investigators are executing an average of 2.5 judicial authorizations every week to follow the money, wherever that trail leads,” said Insp. Mike Robinson, investigative services officer with Wood Buffalo RCMP.
“By working with police partners across Canada, FINTRAC and Canadian financial institutions, we are increasingly able to identify and disrupt the financial networks that enable criminal activity.”
Robinson said the work is already underway in Wood Buffalo and its impact is beginning to be felt.
The unit was created in response to what RCMP described earlier this year as increasingly sophisticated cyber-enabled financial crime, including activity involving cross-jurisdictional and transnational criminal networks.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Adlam, commander of the Financial Crime Unit, said police are focused on protecting residents, businesses and investment in the region from fraudulent schemes.
“Wood Buffalo is a community built on hard work and investment, and we are committed to protecting both,” Adlam said.
“Those looking at Fort McMurray with fraudulent intentions should understand that the RCMP is watching, investigating and taking action.”
RCMP are encouraging anyone who believes they have been a victim of financial crime to report it to police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Wood Buffalo RCMP can be reached at 780-788-4000 or 310-RCMP (7267). The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can be reached at 1-888-495-8501.
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