Nine people are facing charges in what authorities are calling the biggest gold theft in Canadian history from Toronto’s Pearson International airport a year ago. Peel Regional Police said 6,600 gold bars worth more than 20 million Canadian dollars, and CA$2.5 million in foreign currencies were stolen. The stolen gold was melted down and used to purchase illegal firearms, police said. Those charged include an Air Canada warehouse employee and a former Air Canada manager who gave police a tour of the cargo facility after the theft. A jewelry store owner is also among those charged in this massive heist.
The gold bars and foreign currency were transported in the haul of an Air Canada flight on April 17 last year. A truck driver arrived at the airline’s cargo warehouse with a fraudulent bill that was provided to an airline warehouse attendant. Police say a bill for seafood that was picked up the day before was used to pick up the gold, and a duplicate bill was printed off at the Air Canada warehouse. Authorities believe that people within Air Canada facilitated this theft. Some of the suspects were known to police, while others were not. Police have recovered six crudely made bracelets made of gold from the suspects.
The suspects arrested in connection with the gold heist include Air Canada employee Parmpal Sidhu, jewelry store owner Ali Raza, residents from various Ontario locations, and a truck driver currently in custody in the U.S. Peel Regional Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich stated that only a small fraction of the stolen money has been recovered so far. U.S. ATF Special Agent Eric DeGree highlighted that the truck driver was arrested in Pennsylvania after police discovered 65 illegal firearms allegedly destined to be smuggled into Canada. DeGree also mentioned that the suspects melted down the stolen gold to purchase illegal firearms with the profits.
Following the theft, Brinks, an American cash handling company, sued Air Canada over the incident, claiming the airline did not adequately secure the valuable cargo. The lawsuit alleged that a thief walked away with the gold bars and cash after presenting a fake document at an Air Canada warehouse. In response, Air Canada rejected all allegations, stating that it fulfilled its carriage contracts and denying any improper conduct. Brinks filed a statement of claim seeking damages for breach of contract, noting that an “unidentified individual” gained access to the cargo warehouse and presented a fraudulent waybill before absconding with the gold and cash.
The Federal Court filings by Brinks revealed that the thief made off with 400 kilograms of gold and nearly $2 million in cash after presenting the fraudulent waybill at the airline’s cargo warehouse. Dozens of firearms, including two fully automatic weapons and untraceable guns, were seized in connection to the suspects involved in the gold heist. Special Agent DeGree expressed pride in disrupting an international gun trafficking operation, preventing 65 firearms from reaching the streets of Canada, and averting potential criminal activities. Authorities believe that the stolen gold was melted down and used to purchase these illegal firearms, highlighting the complexity and seriousness of the crime.
The ongoing investigation is still seeking the apprehension of a former Air Canada manager who contributed to the theft. Peel Regional Police continue to work towards recovering the remaining stolen funds and apprehending all individuals involved in this high-profile case. The implications of this gold heist on the airline and the broader implications for security measures at cargo facilities highlight the need for increased vigilance and oversight in the transportation of valuable goods. The unprecedented scale and sophistication of this theft have drawn comparisons to heist movies, emphasizing the audacity and criminality of those involved in perpetrating such a brazen crime.
