Date | April 17, 2023 |
---|---|
Location | Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Coordinates | 43°40′36″N079°37′50″W / 43.67667°N 79.63056°W |
Outcome | More than C$20 million of items stolen |
Missing | Gold and other high-value items |
On April 17, 2023, a grand theft occurred at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada, with over C$20 million (US$15 million) worth of gold and other high-value items being stolen. [1] [2] In the evening of Monday, April 17, a container which contained goldbars and foreign currency was offloaded off an inbound aircraft and transferred to an Air Canada holding facility at the airport where Air Canada staff were tricked by a forged shipping document to load it onto a getaway truck. As of April 2024 [update] , nine people have been charged in relation to the heist of which six have been arrested. [3]
According to Peel Regional Police lead investigator Det.-Sgt. Mike Mavity, the theft was the single-largest gold heist in Canadian history. [4]
In 2023, two Swiss companies wanted to ship valuables from Switzerland to Canada, and each arranged with Brink’s Switzerland Ltd. to handle the logistics and compensate for any transit losses. Valcambi, a Swiss precious metals refinery, wanted to ship 24 gold bars weighing in total 400 kilograms (880 lb) to the Toronto-Dominion Bank; the gold was then worth about C$21.1 million. Raiffeisen Schweiz, a Swiss retail bank wanted to ship currency to the Vancouver Bullion and Currency Exchange, a shipment worth about C$2.7 million and weighing 53 kilograms (117 lb). In mid-April 2023, Brink's arranged with Air Canada to ship the gold and currency in one container from Switzerland to Toronto. [5] The container holding the valuables was 0.46 square metres (5.0 sq ft) in size. [6]
On April 17, 2023, Air Canada Flight 881, carrying the valuables, departed Zürich, Switzerland at 1:25 PM local time and arrived in Toronto at 3:56 PM local time. [7] [8] Flight 881 was operated by an Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER, the largest aircraft in Air Canada's fleet, and was registered as C-FITL. [9] [10]
At 5:50 PM, the Brink's container containing the gold and currency was transferred from the airplane to an Air Canada holding facility at the airport. At 6:32 PM, a five-tonne truck pulled to an Air Canada cargo bay. Its driver presented a forged shipping document. Air Canada staff loaded the container of gold and foreign currency onto the truck using a forklift. After being loaded, the truck travelled on Dixon Road, west on Highway 401, and then turned off into a rural area north of Milton. [5] [3] A few hours later, a Brinks Canada truck showed up to pick up the shipment. Air Canada staff tried to find the container but an internal investigation concluded it was missing. Shortly before 3 AM on the next day, the theft was reported to the police. [11]
The forged shipping document was an altered copy of a genuine waybill for a container of seafood that had been picked up from the Air Canada holding facility on the prior day. [3] The forged document was printed on a printer within the Air Canada holding facility. [11]
On April 20, 2023, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that Peel Regional Police would be investigating the theft at the airport. [12] Peel Regional Police inspector Stephen Duivesteyn said their team would investigate "all avenues" and described the incident as "isolated" and "very rare". [13] [14] The Greater Toronto Airport Authority said that the GTAA leases the land on which Air Canada facility was located, and that this facility was located outside of the airport's primary security line. [15]
On April 17, 2024, Peel Regional Police announced its joint investigation with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Nineteen charges were laid, six arrests were made and three Canada-wide arrest warrants were issued. Two Air Canada employees were alleged to be part of an organized group of criminals involved in the theft. Police recovered some $430,000 in cash, about $89,000 worth of gold jewelry, and equipment capable of smelting gold to facilitate its sale. Police had also seized the getaway truck. The ATF was involved as some of those charged were also involved in illegal arms trafficking. [4] [16] [11]
Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said that theft was carefully planned by a well-organized group of criminals. The participation of two Air Canada employees was instrumental in carrying out the theft, according to lead investigator Det.-Sgt. Mike Mavity. Some gang members were allegedly involved in firearms trafficking including smuggling firearms into Canada. [4]
According to Mavity, police believe the stolen goldbars have been melted down, and distributed into local and international markets. Police seized two lists showing how the cash proceeds from the disposal of the gold were distributed among the gang members. One list showed $10.23 million distributed and the other $9.94 million. [4]
As of April 2024 [update] , the suspects charged in relation to the theft were: [4] [11] [17]
Following the theft, Brink's contacted Air Canada on April 27, 2023, to demand a full reimbursement of the costs it sustained during the heist, but no response was received. The Miami-based company is seeking legal action in Canadian federal court, and in addition to the full reimbursement of the costs it sustained, it is also demanding an unspecified amount in special damages and legal fees. [7] [8]
On October 11, 2023, Miami-based Brink's filed a CAD 20 million lawsuit against Air Canada for the negligent handling and care of the items in which it was commissioned by Raiffeisenbank and Valcambi to manage. The lawsuit alleges that there were "no security protocols in place" at the Air Canada holding facility at the time of the theft and that on April 17, 2023, at 6:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, an unidentified individual was able to gain access to this Air Canada holding facility by using a fake document and handing it to Air Canada personnel who were working at the facility during the heist. Brink alleges that "without verifying the authenticity of this document in any way, and upon receipt of the fraudulent waybill, AC (referring to Air Canada) personnel released the shipments to the unidentified individual, following which the individual absconded with the cargo." They allege that Air Canada "failed to follow through with appropriate security measures, despite charging higher shipping rates for its 'secure service'. The airline neglected to provide storing facilities equipped with effective vaults and cages, constant CCTV surveillance, and active human surveillance personnel." [7] [8]
In November 2023, Air Canada replied that it bore no responsibility for the theft and rejected all of Brink's allegations. Air Canada noted that Brink's failed to state the shipment's value on the waybill and pay a special fee for a "special declaration of interest in delivery"; thus, Air Canada’s liability is capped by the Montreal Convention. Brink's retorted that it paid a premium for the shipment and that the waybill was marked with the words "banknotes", "goldbars" and "Special supervision is requested. Valuable cargo". Brink's was of the opinion that the Montreal Convention imposes no limit as to what it can claim from the carrier. [5]
In April 2024, Peel Regional Police announced that two Air Canada employees were allegedly involved in the heist and that the fake document used in the heist was printed on an Air Canada printer. [11]
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