3 Quebec men arrested in northern Manitoba with more than 70 fake IDs: RCMP

Three Quebec men who tried to get through a COVID-19 checkstop at a northern Manitoba First Nationare now facing charges related to identity fraud, RCMP say.

RCMP in Norway House, about 460 kilometres north of Winnipeg,responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle trying to get into the community just after 8:30 p.m. last Thursday, according to a Wednesday news release.

The men inside the vehicle didn'tseem to know where they were going and refused to answer multiple questions at the checkstop, officers were told.

Police later stopped the vehicle and say they found more than 70 counterfeit IDs, cash, cellphones and pepper spray inside.

The men, who are between 19 and 23 years old,are from Chateauguay and Mercier, Que., just outside of Montreal. All three have been charged with identity theft, identity fraud, possession of property obtained by crime and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

They appeared before a judge and will be back in court on Oct. 7.

RCMP are asking anyone who has informationabout the incident tocall Norway House RCMP at 204-359-6483 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

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