Exactly a year after the theft, several arrests have been made in connection with the largest gold heist in Canadian history at Toronto Pearson airport.
The heist involved stealing 6,600 gold bars valued at over $20 million, $2.5 million worth of cash was also taken.
“This isn’t just about gold, its about how gold becomes guns,” Peel Police Chair, Nando Iannicca said. “Gold can be reimbursed but peoples lives when guns are involved cannot.”
Police were able to trace back the gold and currency to a refinery in Zurich, Switzerland. It was transported in a container through an Air Canada flight that landed in Toronto.
Lead investigator Det.-Sgt. Mike Mavity provided information on what exactly went down and how it was made possible.
“They needed people inside Air Canada to facilitate this theft,” Mavity said.
Peel police say two employees of the airline played key roles in pulling off the theft. One of those employees is a 54-year-old man from Brampton.
A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued for the other employee, a 31-year-old man who is also from Brampton.
The group of thieves managed to obtain access to the gold once the flight had landed through a “fraudulent airway bill” and gave it to an attendant.
“The airway bill is for a legitimate shipment of seafood that was picked up the day before,” Mavity said. “This duplicate airway bill was printed off from a printer with an Air Canada cargo.”’
After loading up the gold, video surveillance showed the truck drove west into the Halton Region. That was the last time it was seen on the road.
The driver of the truck was arrested in the United States while carrying dozens of guns that police say were intended for use in Canada.
“We are alleging that some individuals who participated in this gold theft are also involved in aspects of firearms trafficking,” Mavity said.
Over the last year, the Peel Police task force executed 37 search warrants in relation to the gold theft case. They were able to retrieve $430,000 in cash and six pure gold bracelets worth about $89,000.
Police were not able to locate the majority of the gold that was stolen but they did find smelting pots, casts and moulds.
“We believe the gold has been melted down and reconstituted into local and international markets,” Mavity said.
Police were also able to find two “debt lists”, which are connected to ongoing drug trafficking investigations. One of those lists adds up to $10.23 million, and the other $9.94 million.
“We believe these lists actually show where the money was distributed when the gold was sold by the suspects,” he said.
The four Canadians accused have been released on bail and are still awaiting a court date.
“This story is a sensational one, and one which probably belongs in a Netflix series,” Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said.