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Case file • Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Pearson Airport Gold Heist

A shipment of gold bars and foreign currency left an Air Canada cargo shed at Pearson on a forged waybill. It is one of the largest gold thefts in Canadian history. Nine people were charged or named in warrants. Three years on, the gold is still the open question.

Taken
About 400 kg of gold, plus foreign currency — about C$20 million in all
Where it stands
Trial of one accused awaiting verdict. One conviction. Other cases withdrawn, pending or abroad.
The gold
Almost none of the gold has been found. Only about one kilogram of the 400 has been accounted for.

Timeline

  1. April 17, 2023

    Gold and foreign currency worth about C$20 million leave an Air Canada cargo facility at Pearson. Police allege a falsified waybill released the shipment.

  2. 2024

    Police announce charges against nine people, some named in arrest warrants.

  3. April 9, 2026

    Arsalan Chaudhary, who pleaded guilty, is sentenced to four years and ordered to pay about C$22 million in restitution over 40 years.

  4. September 2026

    The Crown withdraws charges against two accused, citing circumstantial evidence.

  5. October 2026

    The trial of Parmpal Sidhu opens in Brampton. He has pleaded not guilty. Arsalan Chaudhary testifies for the Crown.

  6. November 2026

    Closing arguments. The Crown calls Sidhu the inside man; the defence calls him a patsy. A verdict is reportedly expected January 29, 2027.

SourcesCP24 (Canadian Press), UL Lawyers