TORONTO- Canadian authorities have arrested a 43-year-old man at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in connection with the largest gold theft in the country’s history. The suspect was taken into custody shortly after arriving on a flight from Dubai International Airport (DXB), marking a major development in a case that has drawn international attention.
The arrest is linked to the April 2023 theft at an Air Canada (AC) cargo facility in Toronto, where a shipment of gold bars worth more than 20 million Canadian dollars disappeared. Investigators say a key Indian-origin suspect, a former airline employee, remains at large and is believed to be in India.
Canada Arrests Man in $20 Million
Police identified the arrested individual as Arsalan Chaudhary, who was detained shortly before 9 a.m. after landing in Toronto on Monday, January 12, 2026. Investigators said Chaudhary, through legal counsel, had informed authorities in advance of his intention to return to Canada, allowing officers to plan the arrest.
Chaudhary faces multiple charges, including theft over 5,000 Canadian dollars, possession of property obtained by crime, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense, reported India Today.
He has been remanded in custody and is awaiting a bail hearing as part of Project 24K, the task force handling the investigation.
With this arrest, a total of 10 individuals have now been charged in relation to the heist. Police consider the case one of the most complex cargo theft investigations ever handled in the country.
Gold Heist Details
The theft occurred on April 17, 2023, at a secured cargo warehouse at Toronto’s main airport. According to investigators, a suspect used a large delivery truck to collect a shipment that had arrived earlier that day from Zurich Airport (ZRH).
The stolen cargo included roughly 400 kilograms of .9999-pure gold, estimated at around 6,600 bars, along with foreign currency valued at approximately 2.5 million Canadian dollars. Authorities say only about one kilogram of gold has been recovered so far, leaving the majority unaccounted for.
Investigators believe much of the gold was melted down and moved into overseas markets, where it could be resold more easily. Police have also alleged that some proceeds from the theft were used to finance illegal firearms trafficking activities.
Suspects Still Wanted
Several suspects linked to the case remain at large, including a former Air Canada employee accused of helping divert the cargo by manipulating internal systems. Police believe this suspect is currently in India, and an extradition request has already been submitted.
Another accused failed to appear in court in 2024 and is now subject to a bench warrant. A separate suspect has pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking-related charges in the United States and is awaiting sentencing later this year.
Authorities say international cooperation remains critical as the investigation continues across multiple jurisdictions. Police have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, emphasizing that significant quantities of stolen gold are still missing.
Bottom Line
The arrest at Toronto airport marks a significant step forward in unraveling Canada’s largest gold heist, but investigators stress the case is far from closed.
With key suspects still abroad and most of the stolen gold unrecovered, authorities continue to pursue international leads tied to aviation cargo security and organized crime.
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