Six people have been detained in relation to the most heinous gold theft in Canadian history, a bold multimillion-dollar heist that occurred at Toronto’s main airport last year, including at least two men of Indian descent.
Peel Regional Police (PRP) said that three more people are the subject of warrants issued by Canadian authorities in this case.
Using fictitious documentation, authorities claim that on April 17, 2023, an air cargo container containing foreign currency and gold bars valued at over 22 million Canadian dollars was taken from a secure storage facility. The money and gold had just arrived from Zurich, Switzerland, on an Air Canada flight.
At least two former Air Canada employees allegedly helped in the audacious theft, police say. One is now in custody and an arrest warrant has been issued for the other.
Two persons of Indian origin – Parmpal Sidhu, 54, and Amit Jalota, 40, both from Ontario, were arrested on Wednesday along with Ammad Chaudhary, 43, Ali Raza, 37, and Prasath Paramalingam, 35.
Durante King-Mclean, a 25-year-old man from Brampton is currently in custody in the United States on firearms trafficking-related charges, and investigators have been in touch with him and his legal counsel.
The arrests were announced after a lengthy probe into the crime reported last year.
Parmpal Sidhu during the time of the crime was working with Air Canada.
Besides, the police have issued Canada-wide warrants for Simran Preet Panesar, 31, from Brampton, who was also an Air Canada employee at the time of the theft; Archit Grover, 36, from Brampton and Arsalan Chaudhary, a 42-year-old man from Mississauga, the report said.
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick confirmed Parmpal Sidhu and Simran Panesar’s employment with the national flag carrier.
“One left the company prior to the arrests announced today and the second has been suspended,” he said. “As this is now before the courts, we are limited in our ability to comment further.” Lead investigator Det.-Sgt. Mike Mavity called the daring theft from an Air Canada cargo facility the single-largest gold heist in Canadian history. He said two men who worked for the airline were instrumental in pulling it off, CBC News reported.
“They needed people inside Air Canada to facilitate this theft,” Mavity said.
“On April 17, 2023, at 3:56 p.m. a flight landed at Pearson International Airport from Zurich, Switzerland, with a cargo containing 6,600 bars of .9999% pure gold, weighing 400 kilogrammes, valued at over 20 million dollars and CAD 2.5 million worth in foreign currency. Shortly after landing, it was offloaded and transported to a separate location on Airport property,” Peel police said in a statement.
On April 18, the cargo was reported missing to Peel Regional Police.
“Peel Regional Police immediately started the investigation, which has crossed borders, and we have been working collaboratively with the Philadelphia Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF),” the statement said.
The investigation by the ATF and Peel Regional Police has advanced significantly. One person has been taken into custody by the ATF in the US after he was found in possession of 65 illegal firearms, two of which were modified to be completely automatic. Out of the 65 handguns, five are referred to as “ghost guns” because they were never serialized and are therefore impossible to track down.
“Peel Regional Police (PRP) investigators also seized one kilogramme of gold worth approximately $89,000.00, believed to be from the theft, smelting equipment, and approximately $434,000 Canadian currency,” the statement said.
PRP has identified and charged or issued warrants for nine individuals with over 19 charges.
“Our investigators and entire service recognized the heightened interest and impact this incident had in our community. We immediately deployed the necessary resources to address and ensure arrests are made in this complex and multi-faceted investigation that crossed international borders. I commend the incredible work done by our investigators, the ATF, other law enforcement partners, and our community for working together to identify and arrest those responsible for this brazen crime.” Nishan Duraiappah, Peel Regional Police Chief.
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