CBSA investigation leads to charges related to importation of equipment used to make false identities

Djamel Eddine Boutarene appeared at the Montreal courthouse earlier this week.

The 30 year old is charged with possessing other people’s identity information with the intention of using it to make false documents, making false identifications, including driver’s licenses, permanent resident cards and health insurance cards, having smuggled prohibited goods into Canada, and making false or misleading representations by importing goods under false identities.

The CBSA’s investigation began in November 2023 when border services officers at Mirabel International Airport intercepted a package containing equipment used in the printing of identity cards. Links were made between this package and other interceptions of material with the same destination.

The CBSA investigation led to the arrest of Boutarene and the seizure of computer equipment in his possession demonstrating that these imported items were intended for the making of false identities, including identities stolen from a financial institution.

A file was submitted to the Public and Criminal Prosecution Service of Canada and charges were filed at the Montreal courthouse on April 2.