Police Chief Calls Heist “Sensational,” Comparable to Netflix Series
Nine individuals, including two Air Canada employees, have been apprehended in connection with an audacious gold heist totaling $14.5 million at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Peel Regional Police disclosed the arrests of five men while issuing warrants for four others, marking the one-year anniversary of the daring robbery.
Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, speaking at a press conference, characterized the incident as “sensational,” suggesting its narrative could rival that of a Netflix series. He emphasized the magnitude of the theft, deemed the largest in Canadian history.
Among the accused are Simran Preet Panesar, 31, and Parmpal Sidhu, 54, both employed by Air Canada. Shockingly, Panesar had escorted law enforcement on a tour of the facility prior to 
discovery of his involvement in the alleged crime, police revealed.
The remaining suspects include Durante King-Mclean, 25, Prasath Paramalingam, 34, Archit Grover, 36, Arsalan Chaudhary, 42, Amit Jalota, 40, Ammad Chaudhary, 43, and Ali Raza, 37.
According to authorities, the scheme involved the theft of over $20 million CAD in gold, alongside more than $2 million in foreign banknotes. King-Mclean purportedly drove a truck into the warehouse, utilizing a duplicated waybill produced on an Air Canada printer, to facilitate the theft.
Detective Mike Mavity underscored the necessity of inside assistance within Air Canada for the operation’s success. The theft triggered a legal battle, with Brink’s filing a lawsuit against Air Canada for alleged negligence in examining documents and failing to secure insurance on the valuable cargo.
Despite efforts to recover the stolen assets, only a fraction, including six bracelets valued at $89,000 CAD, and $434,000 CAD in cash, were reclaimed by authorities.
Chief Duraiappah speculated that proceeds from the heist may have been used to purchase firearms smuggled into Canada, implicating King-Mclean’s involvement in an illicit arms trafficking operation. King-Mclean, presently detained in the US, faces charges related to international firearms trafficking, alongside Paramalingam.
US authorities assert Paramalingam facilitated King-Mclean’s illegal entry into the country and financed his acquisition of firearms in multiple states.
Additionally, Grover and Jalisa Edwards, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, were charged in the US as accessories to King-Mclean’s crimes. Edwards, however, is not sought after in Canada.
The intricate web of criminal activities surrounding the heist continues to unravel as law enforcement agencies collaborate across borders to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Credit: New York Post
