Nine individuals have been arrested in connection with a brazen gold heist at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, according to police.
The heist, which took place in March 2020, involved the theft of approximately $1.5 million worth of gold bars from a cargo area at the airport. The suspects allegedly used a stolen tractor-trailer to gain access to the secure area and then loaded the gold onto another vehicle before fleeing the scene.
After an extensive investigation, the Toronto Police Service’s Organized Crime Enforcement team, along with the assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), arrested nine individuals on Wednesday.
The suspects, who range in age from 27 to 67, face a total of 18 charges, including theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Police have also seized several vehicles and a significant amount of cash as part of the investigation.
“This was a highly organized and sophisticated operation, and we are pleased to have made these arrests,” said Detective Sergeant Paul LaSalle of the Toronto Police Service’s Organized Crime Enforcement team.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“We believe there may be more individuals involved in this heist, and we are asking anyone with information to contact us,” said LaSalle.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in court on June 2, 2021.
