Two men of Indian origin among six arrested in $22.5 million cash and gold robbery in Canada. (Representative)
Ottawa, Canada:
At least two men of Indian origin are among six people arrested in connection with a brazen multimillion-dollar gold heist at Toronto’s main airport last year, the biggest gold heist in Canadian history.
Canadian authorities also issued warrants for three more people in the case, Peel Regional Police (PRP) said.
On April 17, 2023, an air cargo container carrying more than 22 million Canadian dollars in gold bars and foreign currency was stolen from a secure warehouse using false documentation, police said. The gold and currency had just arrived on an Air Canada flight from Zurich, Switzerland.
At least two former Air Canada employees allegedly helped in the audacious robbery, police said. One of them is in custody and an arrest warrant has been issued for the other.
Two people of Indian origin – Parmpal Sidhu, 54, and Amit Jalota, 40, both from Ontario, were arrested on Wednesday along with Ammad Chaudhary, 43, Ali Raza, 37, and Prasath Paramalingam, 35.
During King-Mclean, a 25-year-old Brampton man is currently in custody in the United States on charges related to firearms trafficking, and investigators have contacted him and his lawyer.
The arrests were announced after a lengthy investigation into the crime reported last year.
Parmpal Sidhu at the time of the crime was working for Air Canada.
Additionally, police issued Canada-wide warrants for Simran Preet Panesar, 31, of Brampton, who was also an Air Canada employee at the time of the robbery; Archit Grover, 36, of Brampton and Arsalan Chaudhary, a 42-year-old man from Mississauga, the report said.
Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick confirmed the employment of Parmpal Sidhu and Simran Panesar with the national flag carrier.
“One left the company before the arrests announced today and the second was suspended,” he said. “As this is now before the courts, we are limited in our ability to comment further.” Lead Investigator Det.-Sgt. Mike Mavity called the daring robbery of an Air Canada cargo facility the biggest gold heist in Canadian history. He said two men who worked for the airline were instrumental in this, CBC News reported.
“They needed people inside Air Canada to facilitate this robbery,” Mavity said.
“On April 17, 2023, at 3:56 p.m., a flight landed at Pearson International Airport from Zurich, Switzerland, with a cargo containing 6,600 bars of 0.9999% pure gold, weighing 400 kilograms, valued at over $20 million and CAD 2.5 million in foreign currency, shortly after landing, was unloaded and transported to a separate location on airport property,” Peel police said in a statement.
On April 18, the cargo was reported missing to Peel Regional Police.
“Peel Regional Police immediately began the cross-border investigation and we have been working collaboratively with the Philadelphia Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF),” the statement said.
Peel Regional Police and the ATF have made significant progress in the investigation. The ATF arrested an individual in the United States who had 65 illegal firearms in his possession, two of which were modified to have fully automatic capabilities. Five of the 65 handguns are known as “ghost guns,” meaning they have not been serialized and therefore cannot be traced.
“Peel Regional Police (PRP) investigators also seized one kilogram of gold worth approximately $89,000.00, believed to be the proceeds of the theft, smelting equipment and approximately $434,000 in Canadian currency,” said the communicated.
PRP identified and charged or issued warrants for nine individuals with more than 19 charges.
“Our investigators and the entire service recognized the great interest and impact this incident had on our community. We immediately deployed the necessary resources to address and ensure arrests were made in this complex, multifaceted investigation that crossed international borders. I commend the incredible work done by our investigators, the ATF, other law enforcement partners, and our community for working together to identify and arrest those responsible for this brazen crime.” Nishan Duraiappah, Chief of Peel Regional Police.
“This investigation continues to be a priority for Peel Regional Police. The boundaries between jurisdictions will not impede our ability to charge and arrest those responsible. We are working closely with national and international law enforcement partners to apprehend those responsible and hold them accountable,” Duraiappah said. , he said.
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