In a plot worthy of a Hollywood thriller, Canada’s largest-ever gold theft, which took place at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport a year ago, has unfolded with nine individuals now facing serious criminal charges. Peel Regional Police, in a statement released on April 17th, disclosed that a staggering 6,600 gold bars, valued at over 20 million Canadian dollars ($14.5 million), along with foreign currencies totaling CA$2.5 million ($1.8 million), were pilfered in April of the preceding year. What’s more, officials revealed that the stolen gold was melted down and employed to procure illegal weapons, marking a sinister twist in the tale.
Among the accused, a former Air Canada manager who cooperated with law enforcement by providing a tour of the cargo facility following the heist finds himself entangled in the legal proceedings. Additionally, an employee of Air Canada’s warehouse is among those charged. Ali Raza, a 37-year-old Toronto resident and proprietor of a jewelry store, is also implicated in the case. The list extends to include Parmpal Sidhu, a 54-year-old Air Canada employee, who has been apprehended and charged with theft over $5,000 as well as conspiracy to commit an indictable crime. Furthermore, the search is on for Simran Preet Panesar, a 31-year-old former Air Canada employee.
Notably, both Sidhu and Panesar hail from Punjab and reside in Brampton, Ontario. Other apprehended individuals include Amit Jalota (40) of Oakville, Ontario, Ammad Chaudhary (43) of Georgetown, Ontario, and Prasath Paramalingam (35) of Brampton. They have been released on bond pending their scheduled court appearances. Meanwhile, Mclean, a 25-year-old Brampton resident who allegedly drove the truck used in the heist, is detained in the United States on charges related to trafficking and weapons. The authorities are also actively seeking Archit Grover (36) from Brampton and Arsalan Chaudhary (42) from Mississauga, Ontario, in connection with the case.
“This story is a sensational one and one which, probably, we jokingly say, belongs in a Netflix series,” remarked Peel Regional Police chief, Nishan Duraiappah, standing in front of the very truck utilized in the audacious heist. According to authorities, all nine individuals are facing up to 19 different charges.
Collaborating in this sprawling investigation, members of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have played a crucial role in piecing together the puzzle that transcended national borders. The intricate scheme involved the use of a legitimate airline waybill, originally intended for a seafood order, which the robbers leveraged to gain access to the airport. Arriving in a five-ton truck, they made off with the gold undetected.
Peel Regional Detective Sgt. Mike Mavity shed light on the events of April 17th, 2023, detailing how an Air Canada flight transported 419 kilograms (923 pounds) of gold bars and foreign currency from Zurich, Switzerland. Subsequently, a truck driver, armed with a forged invoice, arrived at the airline’s cargo warehouse, claiming the consignment under the guise of a seafood shipment. The stolen gold, camouflaged by a fraudulent bill printed within the Air Canada warehouse, was loaded onto the truck, which vanished into the night.
The heist was set into motion when Brink’s Co., commissioned by a Swiss bank and a precious metals refining company, orchestrated the transfer of valuables from Zurich to Toronto. Upon arrival at Toronto Pearson International Airport, the gold bars and currency, valued at $20 million and $2.5 million respectively, were entrusted to Air Canada for further transport. However, nefarious intentions intervened, culminating in the unprecedented theft.
The investigation yielded crucial evidence, including smelting equipment and molds, shedding light on the elaborate process employed to conceal the origins of the stolen gold. With the collaborative efforts of Peel Regional Police and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, significant progress has been made in unraveling this intricate web of criminal activity.
Ultimately, the stolen gold, once a symbol of wealth and prosperity, found its ignominious fate, melted down and used to fuel the illicit trade of weapons. As the legal proceedings unfold, the full extent of the conspiracy and its ramifications are poised to come to light, underscoring the audacity and complexity of one of Canada’s most notorious heists in history.
