Multiple people have been arrested in connection with the largest gold heist in Canadian history at Toronto Pearson airport last year, Peel Regional Police say.
The 2023 heist, which made international headlines at the time, involved 6,600 gold bars valued at over $20 million stolen from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Det. Sgt. Mike Mavity told reporters on Wednesday. Cash valued at $2.5 million was also taken.
The gold and currency was ordered from a refinery in Zurich, Switzerland, Mavity said, and then transported in a container through an Air Canada flight that landed in Toronto.
That flight landed exactly one year ago on April 17, 2023 at 3:56 p.m. The cargo was then offloaded from the plane to an Air Canada cargo facility at 6:32 p.m.
Mavity alleged the suspect arrived at the facility with 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.”
He said a short time later, a forklift arrived with a container of gold and foreign currency; that was loaded into the rear of the suspect’s truck, who then drove off with the goods.
At around 9:30 p.m., Brink’s Canada employees went to the Air Canada cargo site to pick up the shipment of gold and currency. Police were contacted the following day and an investigation launched, he said. Brink’s has filed a lawsuit against Air Canada over the stolen cargo.
Video surveillance obtained by officers showed the truck drove west into Halton Region to north of Milton; that region is more rural, and eventually the truck was lost, Mavity said.
Thirty-seven search warrants were issued along with 70 production orders. Mavity said police seized $430,000 in Canadian currency during the search warrants.
“We believe this money is some of the profits the suspects made when they sold the gold,” Mavity alleged.
Also seized were six crudely made gold bracelets resembling bangles that were sent off for expert examination. They were considered to be pure gold and the total value was over $89,000, Mavity said.
In addition, officers seized smelting pots, casts and molds.
“These are commonly used in the industry to change the composition of gold,” Mavity said.
“We believe the items you see here today were used to change the composition of the stolen gold bars to different forms like the bracelets.”
He also alleges lists obtained at two separate locations “actually show where the money was distributed when the gold was sold by the suspects.”
The truck allegedly used to steal the gold and cash was also seized by police.
Multiple people arrested, charges laid
Nine people have been identified in connection with the case and have been arrested, charged or have Canada-wide warrants issued. So far, more than 19 charges have been laid such as theft, possession of property obtained by crime, among others.
Of those charged include a 54-year-old Air Canada employee and a 37-year-old man from Toronto who is a jewelry store owner, Mavity said. Others include a 40-year-old man from Oakville, a 43-year-old man from Georgetown, and 35-year-old man from Brampton.
The accused have been released on bail and will appear in court at a later date.
Canada-wide arrest warrants have also been issued for a 31-year-old man from Brampton who was a former Air Canada employee and was employed at the time of the theft, Mavity said. They are also looking for a 36-year-old man from Brampton and a 42-year-old man from Mississauga.
The driver who allegedly stole the cargo from Pearson, identified by police as Durante King-Mclean from Brampton, was stopped in a rental vehicle in September 2023 by Pennsylvania police who found dozens of illegal firearms inside. He tried to get away from police on foot, but was arrested, Mavity said.
“We are alleging that some individuals who participated in this gold theft are also involved in aspects of this firearms trafficking,” Mavity added.
King-Mclean is currently in custody in the U.S. on firearms trafficking-related charges.
Eric DeGree, a special agent for U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau in Pennsylvania, said King-Mclean was illegally in the U.S. and alleges the firearms found in the rental vehicle were destined for Canada.
“King-Mclean was also listed in law enforcement databases, which alerted us to contact the Peel Regional Police and thus our cooperation,” DeGree said.
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