The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the brazen theft of $15 million value of gold and valuables at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) earlier this week.
The heist, which occurred April 17, noticed thieves intercept gold and different valuables saved in containers as soon as they have been offloaded from an plane. As Canada’s largest airport, near half of the nation’s air cargo goes by YYZ.
Right here’s what we all know concerning the theft up to now.
How did the heist occur?
“An plane arrived right here on the airport within the early night — as per regular process, the plane was unloaded and cargo was transported from the plane to a holding cargo facility,” Peel Regional Police inspector Stephen Duivesteyn stated Thursday night.
“What I can say is that the container [had] a high-value cargo,” he added. “It did include gold however was not unique to gold and contained different objects of financial worth.”
When pressed on extra particulars of the crime, the inspector didn’t wish to label it a “skilled” theft simply but, regardless of the assumed sophistication which might probably be wanted for such an interception. He additionally did not wish to give away the supposed route or vacation spot of the property.
“We’re three days in, so our investigators have their eyes open to all avenues,” he stated.
What was the worth of the stolen items?
Values had initially ranged from tens of thousands and thousands to lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars}. The most recent official figures, nonetheless, estimated the quantity of gold stolen to be about 1.6 metric tons (about 3,527 kilos), value a complete worth of $15 million, based on stories.
The theft might turn into one of many largest in Canadian historical past. It comes little greater than a decade after Richard Vallières masterminded the heist of three,000 metric tons (6,613,868 kilos) of maple syrup valued at $13.8 million from Quebec’s strategic reserve between 2011 and 2012.
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The police have revealed that the container stolen on this week’s theft measured about 5 sq. toes in dimension and held gold in addition to different “excessive worth” objects, that are believed to incorporate banknotes.
What airline was concerned?
There’s nonetheless no official phrase on which airline was carrying the cargo. Nevertheless, The Toronto Solar acquired confidential paperwork that reportedly present it was an Air Canada aircraft that had been tasked with transport the gold.
Responding to a request for remark from the newspaper, the airline reportedly responded: “Whats up, we’ve no data to offer. Please contact the Peel Police.”
Who owned the gold stolen?
The Toronto Solar claims to have acquired confidential memos regarding the theft and believes that “gold and banknotes” have been being transported as a part of an “intra-bank transaction.” In response to the newspaper, the financial institution could possibly be Toronto-Dominion, in any other case generally known as TD — one of many largest in North America, with a internet worth of tens of billions of {dollars}.
It additionally wouldn’t be uncommon, no less than not in Canada, to move this quantity of gold as a result of gold is the nation’s Most worthy mined commodity.
In 2021 alone, Canadian mines in 10 provinces and territories accounted for 223 metric tons (491,631 kilos) of gold, making it the world’s fourth-largest producer.
Has something like this occurred earlier than?
Whereas officers have described the incident as “remoted” and “uncommon,” it’s not the primary time an airport within the wider Toronto space has been the sufferer of a theft.
In late 1952, criminals pulled off a theft of gold bullion (value $1.8 million in as we speak’s cash) from Malton Airport (YZ), which might later develop into Toronto Pearson Worldwide Airport (YYZ).
The largest gold heist within the nation at the moment, it noticed six wood packing containers of gold “vanish” from a cargo space earlier than being loaded on a aircraft. No person was ever convicted for the 1952 theft, which has perplexed officers for over half a century.
Gold mines throughout Canada have traditionally used the main airports to move bullion, even domestically. In 1974, 5 gold bars sure for the Royal Canadian Mint have been stolen at Ottawa Worldwide Airport (YOW) when armed thieves handcuffed a safety official to a pipe.
Often called the Stopwatch Gang, the culprits of the Ottawa heist have been later apprehended earlier than escaping from jail in 1979.
Regarding this newest thriller, native regulation enforcement and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will proceed to piece collectively proof and work out, within the phrases of 1 Toronto Solar reporter, whether or not this was an “Ocean’s 11 caper or an inside job.”
We’ll convey you updates when we’ve them.
