In Canada, police arrested several people and issued nine warrants in connection with the biggest gold theft ever in the country. The theft occurred at the Toronto Pearson Airport in April 2023.
The stolen items included over 6,500 gold bars, valued at C$20 million (about $14.5 million in US dollars or £11.6 million in British pounds), along with millions in cash.
The individual believed to be the driver during the theft was arrested in the United States. Police found him carrying numerous guns, which they believe were intended for use in Canada.
The police’s description of the event resembled popular heist movies and TV shows. They said a group of criminals pulled off the theft with good planning and organization. The investigation is ongoing.
The sixth largest in the world
On Wednesday, Canadian Peel Regional Police and the US Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Bureau made an announcement, exactly one year after the huge gold theft. This theft is said to be the sixth largest in the world.
The investigation, known as Project 24K, has been ongoing for over a year. It involved a high number of search warrants and interviews.
Breaking: Nine people, including an Air Canada employee & a former employee, have been charged or issued warrants for over 19 charges in a gold heist worth over $ 20 M at Toronto Pearson Airport . They stole a cargo containing 6600 bars of 99.99% pure gold, weighing 400 kg,… pic.twitter.com/rd8hPm8oU2
— Sarbraj Singh Kahlon (@sarbrajskahlon) April 17, 2024
So far, police have found C$90,000 worth of “pure gold” made into six bracelets. They also discovered smelting pots, casts, and molds. Also contained was C$430,000 in cash, which the authorities believe came from selling the gold.
In September, police in Pennsylvania arrested a man from Ontario who they say was in the US illegally. They claim he was the driver for the gang.
The man’s name is Durante King-McClean, and he’s 25 years old. Police stopped him in Philadelphia due to a traffic violation and found firearms in his car.
Firearms intended for import in Canada
Eric Degree, a special agent of the ATF in Philadelphia, mentioned, “One of those firearms had an obliterated serial number, 11 of them were stolen, and two of them were converted into fully automatic machine guns.”
As per police, these guns were meant to be brought into Canada. Nando Iannicca, chair of the Peel Police Services Board, commented, “This isn’t just about a gold heist, [but] this is about how gold becomes guns.”
Police emphasized that the guns seized in the US pose a threat to people’s safety in Canada. The man is still in custody in the US, facing charges related to trafficking firearms.
Five additional suspects were taken into custody, two of whom worked for the airline responsible for transporting the stolen goods. They have been released on bail and are scheduled to appear in court later.
Meanwhile, three arrest warrants have been issued for other individuals in Canada. The gold heist occurred on April 17, 2023, within a cargo facility following the arrival of goods on an Air Canada flight from Zurich, Switzerland.
Police claim an unidentified person gained access to the goods by presenting a fake airway bill, a document typically used to accompany shipped items.