It was an inside job! Airline worker arrested for $20million Toronto Airport ... trends now
An Air Canada worker and several other have been charged or sought in connection with what cops are calling the biggest gold theft in Canadian history.
The Ocean's 11-esque heist occurred at Toronto Pearson International Airport this past year, and saw a gang make off with 20 kilograms of gold bars worth some $20million.
Another $1.7million in foreign currency was also swiped, taken from a cargo plane that had just arrived from Zurich, Switzerland. Footage shows members of the nine-person group loading it all into a suspect's truck, as cops on Wednesday revealed six have been arrested, and that a good deal of the goods have been repossessed.
Holding the press conference in front of the same truck exactly a year removed from the audacious incident, authorities painted it as an 'inside job.'
They also revealed three of the men, including a former Air Canada employee, remain on the run, as they recounted how the theft actually occurred.
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The Ocean's 11-esque heist occurred at Toronto Pearson International Airport in April of last year, and saw a gang make off with 20 kilograms of gold bars worth some $20million. Pictured, thieves loading a truck with the haul before making off on April 17, 2023
Police officers opened the back of the truck the thieves used to make off with the goods during a press conference at Pearson International Airport, in Brampton, Ontario, on Wednesday
'This particular theft has become the largest gold theft in Canadian history,' said Peel Regional Chief Nishan Duraiappah of the April 17, 2023 incident, speaking in front of the seized truck.
It's 'one we jokingly say belongs in a Netflix series,' he added - as Air Canada went on to issue its own statement stating it had suspended one cargo division employee charged, though not the one who remains at large.
That's because the worker, identified Wednesday as 31-year -old Simran Preet Panesar, left the airline before the charges were announced, cops said.
They also told those listening how the suspect - who is charged with theft over $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense - brazenly gave investigators a tour of the facility before suddenly resigning.
The other 'inside man', cops said, was 54-year-old Parmpal Sidhu - another Air Canada worker arrested at some point in the past year.
The pair, Duraiappah said, worked in the same department, and coalesced - and conspired - to steal the treasure trove of goods.
'They needed people inside Air Canada to facilitate this theft,' added Detective Sgt. Mike Mavity of Peel Regional Police.
'[This was] an inside job.'
Holding the press conference in front of the same truck exactly a year removed from the audacious incident, authorities painted it as an 'inside job'
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Both said investigators are still searching for Panesar, who worked as a manager at the popular airline.
Also at large, they said, is 36-year-old Archit Grover and Arsalan Chaudhary, 42, both of whom are also Canadian citizens.
Those arrested, they said, included Toronto jewelry store owner Ali Raza, 37; 40-year-old Amit Jalota; and Ammad Chaudhary, 43; and 35-year-old Prasath Paramalingam.
They have all been released on bail, and are set to appear in court at an as-of-now unspecified date.
The sixth man arrested, meanwhile, was unmasked as the group's getaway driver - 25-year-old Durante King-Mclean.
He was cuffed in the US in September of last year, cops said - revealing how King-Mcleanhad
