Exactly a year after 6,600 bars of 99.99 percent pure gold were reported missing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Peel Regional Police have announced multiple arrests in connection with the brazen heist that was seemingly lifted straight from the silver screen. Law enforcement officials allege that two Air Canada employees were involved in the $15 million gold theft. Despite the charges, only $65,000 in gold was recovered.
In April 2023, a flight from Zurich, Switzerland, landed at Pearson Airport with 880 pounds of gold and $1.8 million in foreign currency. The valuable cargo was removed from the aircraft and transferred to another part of the airport. Ten hours later the airline reported the missing cargo to the police.
Clearly, heavy machinery and large vehicles are required to move that much gold. Police allege the suspects used a forklift to load the cargo into a white unmarked box truck and simply drove the truck out of the Air Canada Cargo terminal. According to the CBC, the driver of the truck presented a legitimate air waybill to gain access to the warehouse. It would be logical to assume that airline employees could be involved in committing these types of robberies.
Peel Regional Police arrested a 54-year-old Air Canada employee and charged him with conspiracy to commit a crime and theft over $5,000. Authorities also issued an arrest warrant for a former Air Canada employee who was working at the airline at the time of the robbery but has since left the company. Airline spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick told the CBC: “One left the company before the arrests announced today and the second has been suspended. Because this is now before the courts, we are limited in our ability to comment further.” Brink’s Canada has sued Air Canada for the money stolen during the robbery.
Police recovered just over two pounds of gold, smelting equipment and $434,000 in Canadian currency. It is believed that the rest of the gold was melted and reconstituted.
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