The recent gold and cash heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport, dubbed as Canada's biggest, has made headlines worldwide. Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah described the incident as something out of a Netflix series, emphasizing its sensational nature. The theft, orchestrated by a group that included two Air Canada employees, involved the disappearance of a cargo shipment containing 6,600 bars of pure gold worth over $20 million, along with CAD 2.5 million in foreign currency.
The stolen consignment vanished from the secure Air Canada cargo facility within the airport shortly after its arrival from Zurich, Switzerland, on April 17, 2023. The incident was reported to Canadian police the following day after the cargo's supposed arrival in Zurich.
An extensive investigation, conducted in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in the United States, led to the arrest of nine individuals, some of whom are of Indian descent. Charges against the suspects range from theft to possession of property obtained by crime and conspiracy to commit indictable offenses.
Among those arrested are individuals like Parmpal Sidhu, Amit Jalota, Simran Preet Panesar, Archit Grover, and Arsalan Chaudhary, with Parmpal Sidhu being an Air Canada employee. In the United States, ATF arrested an individual found in possession of 65 illegal firearms, including some modified for fully automatic capabilities, with five of them being untraceable 'ghost guns.'
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah praised investigators and partner agencies for their efforts in resolving this complex international case. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward.
The audacity and scale of this heist have captured public attention, underscoring the need for robust security measures and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat such criminal activities effectively.
