AIRLINE WORKER ARRESTED FOR $20MILLION TORONTO AIRPORT GOLD HEIST
- The Ocean's 11-esque heist occurred at Toronto Pearson Intl in April of last year
- It saw a gang make off with 20 kilograms of gold bars worth some $20million
- Authorities issued an update about the case a year removed from the incident
An Air Canada worker and several other have been charged or sought in connection with what cops are calling the biggest gold theft in Canadian history.
The Ocean's 11-esque heist occurred at Toronto Pearson International Airport this past year, and saw a gang make off with 20 kilograms of gold bars worth some $20million.
Another $1.7million in foreign currency was also swiped, taken from a cargo plane that had just arrived from Zurich, Switzerland. Footage shows members of the nine-person group loading it all into a suspect's truck, as cops on Wednesday revealed six have been arrested, and that a good deal of the goods have been repossessed.
Holding the press conference in front of the same truck exactly a year removed from the audacious incident, authorities painted it as an 'inside job.'
They also revealed three of the men, including a former Air Canada employee, remain on the run, as they recounted how the theft actually occurred.
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'This particular theft has become the largest gold theft in Canadian history,' said Peel Regional Chief Nishan Duraiappah of the April 17, 2023, incident, speaking in front of the seized truck.
It's 'one we jokingly say belongs in a Netflix series,' he added - as Air Canada went on to issue its own statement stating it had suspended one cargo division employee charged, though not the one who remains at large.
That's because the worker, identified Wednesday as 31-year -old Simran Preet Panesar, left the airline before the charges were announced, cops said.
They also told those listening how the suspect - who is charged with theft over $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense - brazenly gave investigators a tour of the facility before suddenly resigning.
The other 'inside man', cops said, was 54-year-old Parmpal Sidhu - another Air Canada worker arrested at some point in the past year.
The pair, Duraiappah said, worked in the same department, and coalesced - and conspired - to steal the treasure trove of goods.
'They needed people inside Air Canada to facilitate this theft,' added Detective Sgt. Mike Mavity of Peel Regional Police.
'[This was] an inside job.'
Both said investigators are still searching for Panesar, who worked as a manager at the popular airline.
Also at large, they said, is 36-year-old Archit Grover and Arsalan Chaudhary, 42, both of whom are also Canadian citizens.
Those arrested, they said, included Toronto jewelry store owner Ali Raza, 37; 40-year-old Amit Jalota; and Ammad Chaudhary, 43; and 35-year-old Prasath Paramalingam.
They have all been released on bail, and are set to appear in court on an unspecified date.
The sixth man arrested, meanwhile, was unmasked as the group's getaway driver - 25-year-old Durante King-Mclean.
He was cuffed in the US in September of last year, cops said - revealing how King-Mcleanhad been pulled over in Pennsylvania for some unspecified traffic violations.
Cops from the probe - being called Project 24K - went onto share satellite images showing the exact route King-Mclean took after his alleged accomplices loaded the truck to the gills before driving off.
Unlike the others, King-Mclean remains in custody in the US, jailed on firearms trafficking charges due to some of the haul being melted down and used to buy illegal firearms, officials said.
He is currently awaiting extradition to Canada on those charges, as the others face allegations including theft, firearms trafficking, conspiracy, and aiding and abetting, which could land them each in prison for an uncertain amount of years.
Cops on Wednesday outlined the stolen items that they've seized, including some $430,000 in Canadian currency and six gold bracelets valued at more than $89,000.
Also recovered was the five-ton truck and a litany of smelting pots and molds, allegedly used to melt down the goods.
Gold can be transformed into different forms, making it harder to track once stolen.
That makes it a prime target for criminal gangs like the one seen in the now widely seen footage, which was released last April when cops set out on their search.
Cops also shared photos of 65 guns seized during their probe, as Air Canada has faced scrutiny for security protocols that allowed the thieves to take the 'valuable cargo' from a warehouse next to the airport.
'As this is now before the courts, we are limited in our ability to comment further,' Air Canada said in a statement.
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick told CBC that two suspects individuals worked for the airline's cargo division when the theft occurred.
'One left the company prior to the arrests announced today and the second has been suspended. As this is now before the courts, we are limited in our ability to comment further,' he said.
Following the heist, Miami-based transport and security services provider Brinks sued Air Canada, alleging 'negligence and carelessness' by the airline.
The heist was ranked as the sixth largest gold heist in the history of world crime- and is believed to be the largest gold heist in Canada, according to the National Post.
Cops investigation into the matter remains ongoing. No court dates for the six arrested have been announced.
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