Canadian Authorities Make Arrests in $20 Million Gold Heist at Toronto Airport

It was a year ago, on a fateful day in Toronto's Pearson International Airport, that what authorities are calling the biggest gold theft in Canadian history took place. Peel Regional Police revealed on Wednesday, April 17, the staggering details of the heist that shook the nation.

The criminals made off with a whopping 6,600 gold bars, valued at over 20 million Canadian dollars, along with an additional CA$2.5 million in foreign currencies. The audacious thieves even went as far as melting down the stolen gold to fund their illegal firearms purchases.

Shockingly, the list of alleged perpetrators includes an Air Canada warehouse employee and a former Air Canada manager. It's been revealed that the former manager even had the audacity to give the police a tour of the cargo facility after the theft, as if to rub salt in the wounds of the authorities.

According to Peel Regional Detective Sgt. Mike Mavity, the theft occurred after a truck driver arrived at the airline’s cargo warehouse with a fraudulent bill that was provided to an airline warehouse attendant. The gold was then picked up using a duplicate bill that was printed off at the Air Canada warehouse, highlighting the meticulous planning that went into executing the heist.

Air Canada employee Parmpal Sidhu, jewelry store owner Ali Raza, and several other individuals from various Ontario cities have been arrested in connection with the crime. While some have been released on bail conditions, others are still at large, including the truck driver alleged to have picked up the stolen gold.

The International Connection

The plot thickens as the truck driver, Durante King-Mclean, is currently in custody in the U.S. on firearms and trafficking related charges. In a startling revelation, it was disclosed that the illegal firearms were allegedly destined to be smuggled into Canada, further underscoring the international scope of the criminal operation.

In the aftermath of the heist, Brinks, an American cash handling company, sued Air Canada over the theft. Brinks' lawsuit alleges that the theft occurred after a fake document was presented at an Air Canada warehouse. Air Canada, however, vehemently refuted the allegations, asserting that it fulfilled its carriage contracts and denying any improper conduct.

Despite the valiant efforts of law enforcement, only a meager CA$90,000 of the stolen CA$20 million has been recovered. This leaves a stark reminder of the enormity of the lingering losses resulting from the brazen act of thievery.

The Sting Operation

U.S. ATF Special Agent Eric DeGree proudly announced the successful takedown of an international gun trafficking operation, with the seizure of 65 firearms that were intended for the streets of Canada. The seized firearms included two fully automatic weapons and five untraceable guns, providing a glimpse into the severity of the threat that was averted.

As the investigation continues to unfold, the authorities believe that the stolen gold was melted down and the profits were utilized to finance the purchase of illegal firearms, adding yet another sinister dimension to this unprecedented crime.