Police have brought charges against an additional individual in relation to a multimillion-dollar gold robbery at Pearson airport in 2023, stating that he was apprehended after arriving in Canada on Monday. Peel Regional Police Insp. Mike Mavity informed CBC News that Arsalan Chaudhary, 43, was detained upon his arrival in Toronto from Dubai. Chaudhary had coordinated with his legal representatives to surrender himself, although Mavity was unsure of the specific reasons for his decision to do so.
Subsequently, Chaudhary faced accusations of theft exceeding $5,000, two counts of possessing unlawfully obtained property, and conspiracy to commit a serious offense. He was detained for a bail hearing on Wednesday.
Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah expressed that the arrest highlights the effectiveness of law enforcement collaboration across borders in disrupting complex criminal operations. Duraiappah emphasized, “Let it be known: no matter where you try to run or hide, we will find you.”
This incident, labeled as the largest gold theft in Canadian history, involved the disappearance of a cargo shipment carrying 400 kilograms of gold and approximately $2.5 million in foreign currency from a flight arriving from Zurich, Switzerland on April 17, 2023. Mavity stated that the case implicated two groups – Air Canada employees allegedly aiding in the theft and an external group that included Chaudhary.
According to the Crown’s allegations, Chaudhary played a significant role in orchestrating the robbery, assisting in the sale of the stolen gold and its removal from Canada. A suspect referred to him as the primary orchestrator of the heist.
Subsequent to the robbery, authorities conducted a search of Chaudhary’s residence, seizing various items, including $154,000 in Canadian currency, cellphones, SIM cards, and documents detailing the allocation of funds towards assets amounting to $9 million. The Crown’s allegations also revealed extensive communication between Chaudhary and other suspects associated with the incident.
Investigators have issued a warrant for a 27-year-old individual from Brampton, Ontario, linked to the case, who is facing firearms trafficking-related charges in the U.S. Additionally, two other suspects from Brampton, one of whom is a former Air Canada employee, remain at large with warrants issued for their arrest.
