Police are investigating a massive gold heist that took place at Toronto Pearson International Airport on 17th April. An aircraft container transporting the goods had arrived at the airport and was transported to a cargo holding facility. It was in this location that the theft is believed to have taken place. The stolen goods were worth over C$20m ($15m, £12m) and consisted of gold and other items of monetary value. Although this is still an ongoing investigation, police have stated that the public is not in danger, and the heist is an isolated and rare incident.
According to the Peel Regional Police inspector, Stephen Duivesteyn, their team is investigating all avenues, and it is too early to say whether organised crime groups are involved. The aircraft container was small, about 5 sq ft (.46 sq m) in size, and it remains unknown which airline shipped the cargo, its origin or intended destination. The authorities have not released any information that could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.
Theft of valuables, including gold, is not new in Canada. In 2011 and 2012, over 3,000 tonnes of maple syrup valued at $18.7m were stolen from a storage facility in Quebec, known as the “Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist.” However, the Toronto Pearson International Airport heist could mark one of the more significant heists in Canadian history. Police have requested the public’s assistance in providing any relevant information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects or the recovery of the stolen goods.
The authorities believe that the thieves gained access to a public side of a warehouse leased to a third party, outside of the primary security line at the airport. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is yet to comment on the ongoing investigation. The stolen gold heist is undoubtedly a significant incident, and the police have assured the public that they are working hard to solve the case.
Source:BBC
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