Gold Theft. Image credit: X/@dave1agar
Toronto/CMEDIA: Some of the gold bars stolen reportedly a year ago during the heist at Pearson airport were likely melted down in Toronto area jewelry store’ basement, police said.
During last week’s news conference on the one-year anniversary of the heist, investigators announced that five suspects had been arrested and four others were facing charges in connection with the largest gold theft in Canadian history.
The suspects face a total of 19 charges, police said, adding that Canada-wide warrants have been issued for the arrest of three of the suspects who have not yet been apprehended.
Police also said that one former and one current Air Canada employee, as well as a Toronto jewelry store owner, are among the suspects.
Police shared images of smelting as well as a Toronto jewelry store owner’s equipment that was seized during the investigation during last week’s news conference.
Police have also said that the only gold recovered from the heist was melted down and fashioned into six gold bracelets, worth an estimated $89,000.
“The gold bracelets were not found at the same location as the smelting tools, and we cannot divulge where they were found at this time,” police said Monday.
“Regarding the remaining gold, our opinion is that it likely has left the country.”
Following the shipment of the gold, along with about $2.5 million in foreign currency to Toronto from Zurich in the hull of an Air Canada plane on April 17, 2023 and shortly after the flight landed at Pearson Airport that afternoon, the shipment was offloaded to an Air Canada cargo facility.
It was alleged by police that a suspect driving a five-tonne delivery truck came into possession of the gold and bank notes after presenting Air Canada personnel with a fraudulent airway bill.
The heist was “carefully planned” by a “well-organized group of criminals. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah previously reported saying.
