Police sting takes down transit counterfeiters
Undercover operation results in more than 450 charges and 300 arrests linked to the production and distribution of fake Toronto Transit Commission tickets.
An 18-month undercover investigation by Toronto's transit police has resulted in the arrest of 307 people and more than 450 charges of making and selling fake tickets.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) estimates that $7 million a year is lost to fare evasion, which includes the use of counterfeit tickets, tokens and passes for subways, buses and streetcars.
As part of the undercover operation, police seized more than 20,000 fake tickets. The 450 criminal charges were made against the makers, distributors and users of counterfeit items, said TTC general manager Rick Ducharme.
According to Canadian wire reports, Ducharme also indicated that fare evasion is rampant in major cities.
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