In a dramatic twist to one of Canada's most audacious crimes, a fugitive wanted in connection with the multi-million dollar gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport was arrested this week after flying into the very same airport from which the precious metal was stolen.
Arrest at the Scene of the Crime
Arsalan Chaudhary, 43, was taken into custody by Peel Regional Police on Monday after his flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, landed at Toronto Pearson. Chaudhary, formerly of Mississauga but now listed as having no fixed address, was one of three remaining fugitives in the high-profile case. Authorities allege he participated in what investigators have termed the largest gold heist in Canadian history.
According to reports, Chaudhary agreed to surrender to police and flew to Toronto knowing he would be arrested. He was initially detained by a Canada Border Services Agency officer upon arrival before being turned over to Peel police officers. Video footage shows Chaudhary, wearing a grey hoodie and ski vest, being led handcuffed through the airport's international arrivals section with his head down. He did not comment to media before being placed in a police cruiser.
Details of the Historic Heist
The brazen theft occurred on April 17, 2023. A shipping container holding the equivalent of 6,600 bars of nearly pure gold, weighing 400.19 kilograms, was stolen from an Air Canada cargo facility shortly after arriving on a flight from Zurich, Switzerland. The container also held foreign currency valued at approximately $2.5 million. The total value of the stolen goods was over $20 million at the time.
The heist was executed with startling simplicity. Within hours of the shipment's arrival, a truck driver fraudulently picked up the container using an old Air Canada waybill. The gold was being delivered by security firm Brink's on behalf of two clients.
Investigation and Recovery
The investigation, a collaboration between Peel police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), has led to multiple arrests. Police have identified 10 people allegedly involved in the complex plot.
To date, recovery of the stolen bounty has been minimal. Police have only reclaimed about $90,000 worth of gold, which had been melted down and fashioned into crude bracelets at a Toronto-area jewellery store. Investigators also seized $430,000 in Canadian currency, believed to be proceeds from the sale of the stolen gold.
Chaudhary has been charged with theft over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. He attended the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton and was remanded for a bail hearing.
Remaining Fugitives and Extradition Efforts
With Chaudhary's arrest, two individuals remain at large. Simran Preet Panesar, 33, from Brampton, is believed to be in India. Notably, Panesar was a manager at the cargo warehouse where the gold was taken. He quit his job a few months after the heist and subsequently disappeared. He is wanted for theft over $5,000 and conspiracy. Canadian authorities have submitted an extradition request to India.
The arrest marks a significant development in a case that captured national attention for its sheer scale and bold execution. The return of a suspect to the scene of the crime underscores the international reach of the investigation as authorities continue to pursue the missing gold and the remaining suspects.
