How Canada's Largest Golden Heist Worth $20 Million Unfolded

how canada’s largest golden heist worth $20 million unfolded

Six individuals have been apprehended in connection with the significant gold theft that transpired at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport last year, as announced jointly by authorities from Canada and the United States on Wednesday, reports CNN.

Three further people who have been linked to what has been called an internally coordinated operation have also been handed arrest warrants by law authorities. Regarding the event, all nine of the defendants are facing more than 19 counts.

According to police comments, on April 17, 2023, a cargo container containing foreign money and gold bars valued at over 22 million Canadian dollars was forcibly taken from a secure storage facility at the airport using forged papers. The stolen goods had just come on board an Air Canada flight that left Zurich, Switzerland.

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At least two former workers of Air Canada are alleged by investigators to have assisted in the bold heist, as per CNN’s. Right now, one person is being held while the other has an arrest warrant out for them.

Peel Regional Police Detective Sgt. Mike Mavity described the operation to CNN as an “inside job,” saying, “They needed people inside Air Canada to facilitate this theft.”

A representative for Air Canada, Peter Fitzpatrick, said, “We thank the police for their diligent efforts in investigating this matter.” He expressed thanks for the comprehensive investigation. We are constrained in our capacity to speak further since issue is currently in the legal system.

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The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Pennsylvania section collaborated with the investigation, which was nicknamed “Project 24Karat.”

The driver of the automobile that fled with the cargo container was identified as a Canadian who was arrested in Pennsylvania in September 2023 after a traffic check, according to ATF Special Agent Eric DeGree. When guns were located in the rental car during the stop, the person—who was later determined to be in the US illegally—left the scene.

DeGree told CNN, “Those firearms that were allegedly going to be smuggled into Canada were recovered thanks to a court-authorized search warrant for the vehicle,” highlighting the avoidance of 65 firearms from being used in potentially dangerous situations.

According to allegations, the operation’s highly skilled criminal organization planned to use the bulk of the looted gold and cash to help the import of firearms into Canada.

Mavity further on the link between the stolen assets and the weapons trafficking business, saying, “We believe that they’ve melted down the gold and the profits they got from the gold they used to help finance the firearms, obviously purchasing the illegal firearms.”

Officials from Canada and the US confirm that the inquiry is still underway and that just a small portion of the stolen gold bars and cash have been found so far. Five melted gold bracelets, estimated to be worth $90,000, were found by police in Ontario after a search warrant was executed.

Declaring the crime to be “the largest gold heist in Canadian history” and the sixth largest globally, Deputy Police Chief Nick Milinovich brought attention to the incident’s scale, CNN reported.

The mayor of Brampton, Ontario, Patrick Brown, commented, “I don’t think I ever imagined they’d have to deal with the largest gold heist in Canadian history; it’s almost out of an Ocean’s Eleven movie or a CSI,” in reflection on the unusual nature of the incident. However, these crooks were mistaken to believe they were more experienced than the cops.