Six people are facing roughly two dozen combined charges in connection with an online counterfeit currency sales ring in the Greater Toronto Area.
Halton Regional Police said they lauched an investigation, dubbed Project Mirage, in August 2025 after they were made aware of two public Instagram accounts promoting selling fake Canadiah cash.
Police said the accounts had links to online stores that allegedly offered various counterfeit currency bundles, which were advertised as “film prop money.” Purchases from this store were allegedly processed through a credit card before the orders were shipped across Canada.
Investigators said they connected the fake cash to various frauds throughout the GTA.
In total, police said the suspects generated more than $60,000 in online sales before Project Mirage disrupted their operations.
Halton police executed search warrants at three homes in Toronto on March 31, as well as vehicles associated to the accused.
Through those warrants, police said they sized a one-ounce gold bar worth $6,500, 13 cell phones, several laptops, packing materials for cash, counterfeit currency business cards for the online shops, bundles of counterfeit currency (from Canadian to Euros), tools for counterfeiting the cash and bundles of holographic security strips.
Police said they also seized various illicit drugs, including more than 12 ounces of cocaine, two ounces of MDMA, six ounces of methamphetamine and 80 Xanax tablets.
Seized drugs Investigators with Project Mirage said they seized various illicit drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine and Xanax. (Halton Regional Police Service)
Halton police charged six people from Toronto who face a combined total of 20 charges: 23-year-old Rafi Ahmed, 24-year-old Shafi Ahmed, 21-year-old Levente Glonczi, 29-year-old David Ho, 31-year-old Jason Ho, and 29-year-old Thanh Bui.
Investigators are asking anyone with additional information to contact the HRPS Financial Crimes Unit or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
