Airport gold heist fugitive arrested after flying into Pearson from UAE

One of the alleged masterminds in the biggest gold heist in Canadian history was arrested as he landed at Pearson, where the theft occurred in 2023.

Police say a 43-year-old man wanted in connection with the 2023 gold heist at Pearson airport has now been arrested after landing in Toronto from Dubai on Monday morning.

According to police, Arsalan Chaudhary, of no fixed address, was arrested after flying into Toronto Pearson International Airport from the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking with CP24 late Monday afternoon, Insp. Mike Mavity, of Peel Regional Police, said the accused, with the assistance of his lawyer, contacted police in December, informing them he’d be arriving in Toronto on a flight today.

“So that was arranged through his counsels. We were able to prepare and then arrest him shortly before 9 a.m. when he landed this morning on a flight from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates,” Mavity said.

10 charged in connection with theft

Ten people, including the alleged getaway driver, have now been charged in connection with the theft, which occurred on April 17, 2023.

Police allege the equivalent of 6,600 gold bars were stolen from Air Canada’s cargo facility that evening by a suspect who arrived at the warehouse in a five-tonne delivery truck.

The gold, which had an estimated value of about $20 million, had been shipped to Toronto from Zurich in the hull of an Air Canada plane that landed at the airport earlier that day.

‘Incredibly large quantity’ of gold still outstanding

Mavity said so far authorities have recovered very little of the stolen gold..

“Unfortunately, there’s a lot that’s out there. We haven’t been able to find it all. We have a very small amount, I believe, around a kilogram, and we have some currency that we believe is profits from that, but ultimately, an incredibly large quantity of gold is still outstanding,” he said.

“Unfortunately, with gold, ... it can be melted down to change shape, to be made into jewelry to bars and to be shipped to overseas markets such as Dubai and India, where we believe it’s much easier to get rid of pure gold and sell it for profit.”

Investigators previously stated they believe that the stolen gold was melted down and sold, with some of the proceeds used to purchase illegal guns for a firearms trafficking operation.

A former Air Canada employee is among the suspects who have been arrested, police previously confirmed.

Chaudhary, meanwhile, has been charged with theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. He has been held for a bail hearing.

2 suspects outstanding

Peel police noted they are still trying to apprehend two suspects, including Simran Preet Panesar, a 33-year-old Brampton man and former Air Canada employee. Investigators said he is believed to be in India.

“We actually have an extradition order that we swore to and was served on the Indian government late last year, requesting his extradition. We’re still waiting for that,” the police inspector said.

Investigators are also searching for Prasath Paramalingam, a 36-year-old Brampton man whom police said is the subject of a bench warrant after he failed to appear in court on Aug. 19, 2024.

“We’re not entirely sure where he is, but we’re also looking for him as well,” Mavity noted.

None of the allegations against the accused have been tested in court.

“Investigators urge these individuals to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in to the police,” Peel police said in a news release.

Mavity went no to say that police must respect the court process and cannot prevent these individuals from fleeing as they were both released based on the charges they were facing.

“They are promising to appear on these dates and they are expected to appear on these court dates as part of the release formats. Unfortunately, when they don’t, it makes it, obviously, extremely difficult for us,” he said, adding police sometimes try to seize passport to try to prevent an accused from leaving the country, however “they may have different methods helping them kind of evade our detection and or arrest.”