Toronto police arrest Arsalan Chaudhary in $20M Pearson Airport gold theft; investigation spans India, UAE, and Canada under Project 24K.

A 43-year-old male has been taken into custody by Peel Regional Police as part of Project 24K, the comprehensive investigation into the theft of over $20 million worth of gold bars from Toronto Pearson International Airport, which has been dubbed the biggest gold robbery in Canada history.

Arsalan Chaudhary, the suspect, was taken into custody at Pearson Airport following his arrival on a plane from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Chaudhary has “no fixed address,” according to the police. According to a report, he has been charged with two charges of possession of property obtained by crime, theft over $5,000, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. After his arrest, he appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton and was detained for a bail hearing.

How Pearson Airport’s Gold Was Lost

The inquiry began on April 17, 2023, when a cargo plane carrying a valuable shipment landed at Toronto Pearson after arriving from Zurich. nearly $2.5 million in foreign money and nearly 400 kilograms of 99.99% pure gold, or 6,600 gold bars worth over $20 million, were part of the cargo.

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The container was unloaded after landing and moved to a different location on the airport’s secure property. According to authorities, the cargo was reported missing just hours later, which led to a significant police response and the start of a multi-jurisdictional, intricate investigation, according to Peel Police.

Inside the Growing Web of Project 24K

Project 24K was started by Peel Regional Police as a cross-border investigation, and it has since grown considerably. Ten people linked to the alleged plot have now been charged or have arrest warrants issued against them, according to investigators.

Simran Preet Panesar, a 33-year-old former employee of Air Canada from Brampton who authorities believe is presently in India, is still one of the major suspects. Investigators claim Panesar helped detect and reroute the gold shipment by taking advantage of airline systems. His last known location was a leased residence close to Chandigarh, and a warrant for his arrest is still active across Canada.

The 27-year-old Brampton resident Durante King-Mclean has also been identified by the authorities as being wanted on charges of theft and possession of stolen property. King-Mclean is awaiting sentencing later this year after entering a guilty plea to charges of weapons trafficking in the United States. According to the police, they still communicate with him and his attorney.