A web of intrigue unfurled at Toronto’s main airport where an audacious multimillion-dollar gold heist took place last year, leading to the arrest of six individuals, according to Peel Regional Police (PRP). Among those detained were at least two men of Indian origin, as reported by the news agency PTI, with international warrants issued for three more accomplices.
The fortune in question – over 22 million Canadian dollars, equivalent to approximately 1.37 billion Indian Rupees, in foreign currency and gold bars – was part of an Air Canada shipment from Zurich, Switzerland. Upon its arrival on April 17, 2023, the precious cargo was seized from a secure storage facility using fraudulent documentation, in an operation that marked Canada’s largest gold heist.
Shockingly, the heist was orchestrated with insider help; according to the PRP, at least two former Air Canada employees were implicated in facilitating the theft. These individuals used their positions to breach airport security and manipulate procedures to undertake the monumental crime.
Five people of Indian descent have been apprehended as part of the investigation, which included Ammad Chaudhary, 43, Ali Raza, 37, and Prasath Paramalingam, 35. Two other Ontario residents, Parmipal Sidhu, 54, and Amit Jalota, 40, were also taken into custody, with Sidhu previously employed by Air Canada, and believed to have been involved at the time of the heist.
Authorities are currently coordinating their efforts with US officials as Durante King-Mclean, a 25-year-old resident of Brampton, stands accused of trafficking illegal firearms and is represented by counsel in the United States. As part of the fallout from this criminal endeavour, police uncovered 65 undocumented firearms, with two modified to be fully automatic, and five being “ghost guns,” which lack serialized identification and are notoriously difficult to trace.
In the aftermath of the audacious robbery, detectives seized approximately one kilogram of gold valued at close to $89,000.00, smelting equipment, and roughly $434,000 in Canadian currency, all believed to be connected to the daring heist.
The investigation, which crossed international borders, was comprehensive and complex, according to a statement by Peel police as cited by PTI, “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.”
Peel Regional Police Chief, Nishan Duraiappah, praised the collaborative effort spanning national and international law enforcement and the community, emphasizing the Peel Police’s dedication to seeing the investigation through to its conclusion. Highlighting the cross-jurisdictional nature of the crime, Duraiappah assured the public that such boundaries would not compromise the police force’s pursuit of the culprits.
The roots of the conspiracy trace back to the Air Canada cargo facility where Det.-Sgt. Mike Mavity of the PRP stated two airline employees played a pivotal role in orchestrating the heist. The operation required accomplices with intimate knowledge of the airline’s operations, highlighting the vulnerabilities even within seemingly secure environments.
The sophisticated operation saw the transfer of 6,600 bars of .9999% pure gold, weighing 400 kilograms, and CAD 2.5 million worth in foreign currency from the Swiss aircraft to a separate location on airport property, soon after its arrival. This swift and stealthy conveyance underlined the meticulous planning behind the crime.
While several suspects remain at large, with warrants issued for Simran Preet Panesar, 31, Archit Grover, 36, and Arsalan Chaudhary, 42, Peel Regional Police remain unswerving in their commitment to arrest and charge all individuals responsible for this unprecedented theft.
The audacious nature of the heist, the international dimensions of the investigation, and the arrest of the suspects involved confirm both the vulnerability of global transport networks to insider threat and the tenacity of law enforcement in bringing perpetrators to justice. As this case unravels, it remains a stark reminder of the sophisticated risks that lie within international commerce and transport.
