Calgary police have charged a man in relation to a counterfeit currency investigation and seized nearly $60,000 worth of fraudulent Canadian money from a residence in northwest Calgary.
From Thursday, July 10 to Tuesday, July 15, 2025, we received reports of an individual attending multiple local businesses and paying for items with money that was later determined to be counterfeit currency.
During that time, the same suspect is also believed to have met with a victim to purchase an iPhone that was advertised via an online ad. The suspect paid for the cellphone with what was later determined to be counterfeit currency.
Police investigated the reports of counterfeit currency and were able to quickly identify the suspect.
The investigation continued, and on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence believed to be associated to the suspect, located in the 4500 block of 37 Street N.W., and seized $58,150 in counterfeit Canadian currency, manufacturing material for counterfeit currency and an imitation firearm.
On Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, police returned to the residence to arrest the suspect. The suspect attempted to evade police by accessing a neighbour’s residence, however approximately two hours later, and following extensive negotiations, the suspect was successfully taken into custody.
As a result, Tinevimbo GANDAWA, 19, of Calgary, was charged with:
· Theft under $5,000
· Manufacturing counterfeit currency
· Uttering counterfeit currency
· Possession of counterfeit currency
· Possession of a weapon
· Break and enter
· Two counts of breach of a probation order
He will next appear in court on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
“Every counterfeit bill we pull out of circulation is one less tool that feeds criminal activity,” says Staff Sgt. Kerry Smith of the Calgary Police Service Offender Management Unit. “We were also able to remove an imitation firearm from the community. These types of firearms are often used to threaten and intimidate victims as they appear real, so I would like to thank the officers who worked on this investigation and seized the items harmful to Calgarians.”
Anyone with information about these incidents, or the production of counterfeit currency, is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
CA25305505/4902
