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Nine individuals are now facing charges in connection with a heist involving nearly $24 million in gold and cash from Pearson Airport. Among those charged is Simran Preet Panesar, a former Air Canada manager who is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for his alleged involvement in the largest gold heist in Canadian history. According to his lawyer, Panesar is preparing to turn himself in.
The heist occurred on April 17, 2023, when a cargo container carrying over CAD 22 million worth of gold bars and foreign currency was stolen from a secure storage facility at Pearson International Airport. Shortly after the container landed, it was offloaded and moved to another location on the airport property.
Peel police launched an investigation immediately, working in collaboration with the Philadelphia Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“We believe they melted down the gold and used the profits to finance the purchase of illegal firearms and provide transportation,” said Peel police Detective Sergeant Mike Mavity.
The ATF arrested one man in the United States who possessed 65 illegal firearms, two of which had been modified to have fully automatic capabilities. Five of the 65 handguns were ‘ghost guns,’ meaning they were not serialized and were untraceable. Investigators have seized one kilogram of gold, valued at approximately $89,000, believed to be from the theft, along with smelting equipment and approximately CAD 434,000 in cash.
The following individuals have been arrested and charged:
![](https://mmnews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/nine-suspect.jpg)
Meanwhile, Simran Preet Panesar, a 31-year-old man from Brampton, a former Air Canada employee who was employed at the time of the theft is wanted for theft over $5000.
Police say Panesar quit his job last summer and disappeared. The charges against him and the other eight individuals were announced in April. Panesar is believed to have returned to India, his birthplace. He worked in the same department as Parmpal Sidhu, who has also been charged and arrested in connection with the crime.