TORONTO- A significant development has emerged in Canada’s largest gold heist case, with at least two individuals of Indian origin among the six individuals arrested in connection with the daring theft at Toronto’s primary airport last year.
Peel Regional Police (PRP) have also announced warrants for three more individuals linked to the crime.
Toronto Airport Heist Arrests
The heist, which occurred on April 17, 2023, involved the theft of a cargo container containing over 22 million Canadian dollars’ worth of gold bars and foreign currency from a secure storage facility at Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
The stolen cargo had recently arrived on an Air Canada (AC) flight from Zurich (ZRH), Switzerland, and was unlawfully removed using fraudulent paperwork.
According to police reports, two former Air Canada employees allegedly assisted in the heist, with one already in custody and another being sought under an arrest warrant.
Among those apprehended on Wednesday were Parmpal Sidhu, 54, and Amit Jalota, 40, both of Indian descent and residents of Ontario, along with Ammad Chaudhary, 43, Ali Raza, 37, and Prasath Paramalingam, 35.
The investigation into the crime, which involved cooperation with law enforcement agencies across borders, resulted in the identification of additional suspects.
Peel police have issued Canada-wide warrants for Simran Preet Panesar, 31, Archit Grover, 36, and Arsalan Chaudhary, 42, all believed to have been involved in the heist.
Air Canada Employee Involved in Heist
Air Canada verified Sidhu and Panesar’s employment status at the time of the theft. One had already left the company before the arrests, while the other was suspended pending further investigation.
Lead investigator Detective-Sergeant Mike Mavity characterized the heist as the largest in Canadian history and underscored the involvement of individuals associated with Air Canada in orchestrating the crime.
The investigation, which spanned international borders, made significant headway with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in the United States.
The ATF’s involvement resulted in the apprehension of an individual in the U.S. in possession of a cache of illegal firearms, some of which had been modified for fully automatic capabilities.
In addition to the arrests, the Peel Regional Police (PRP) seized a considerable amount of gold believed to be connected to the theft, along with smelting equipment and a substantial sum of Canadian currency.
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and the community to apprehend those responsible for the audacious crime. He reaffirmed PRP’s dedication to pursuing the investigation and holding all involved parties accountable, irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries.
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