Six Arrested for Alleged Involvement in Massive Canadian Gold Heist
Canadian authorities have recently made significant progress in what is reported to be the country’s largest gold heist. Six men were arrested and warrants have been issued for three more who remain at large.
The crime involved the theft of 6,600 pure gold bars valued at approximately CA$20 million ($14.5 million), along with CA$2.5 million ($1.8 million) in foreign currency. This gold and currency had just arrived by air at Toronto Pearson International Airport when the heist occurred on April 17, 2023.
The operation leading to the arrests was detailed in a statement by Peel Regional Police (PRP) in Ontario.
During a detailed press conference, Peel Regional Police Deputy Sergeant Mike Mavity explained that the suspects executed a sophisticated operation involving a fraudulent airway bill and a five-ton truck.
The truck, driven by a suspect named Durante King-Mclean, was loaded with the gold after presenting the fraudulent documents to an unwitting Air Canada cargo employee. The vehicle was last seen on surveillance cameras heading into a rural area, making its tracking difficult.
PRP Chief Nishan Duraiappah commented on the unusual nature of the case, saying, “This story is a sensational one, and one which, probably, we jokingly say, belongs in the Netflix series, or something greater than that,” as reported by The Daily Caller.
During the ongoing investigation, authorities conducted extensive searches, as explained by Deputy Sergeant Mavity, investigating over 225 residences and businesses in search of the ill-gotten gold. These efforts led to the recovery of about CA$ 430,000, believed to be part of the profits from the illicit sale of the stolen gold.
The scope of the crime extended beyond the heist, intertwining with illegal arms trafficking. Durante King-Mclean was later apprehended in the U.S. following a traffic stop where he attempted to flee. This led to further discoveries as Special Agent in Charge Eric J. DeGree of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division explained that King-Mclean illegally left Canada for the United States and purportedly fled on foot during a traffic stop late at night.
The magnitude of the operation and the subsequent investigation highlighted the complexity and audacity of the crime, with Peel Regional Chair and PRP Service Board Chair Iannica reflecting on the broader implications, “This is also a story about reverse alchemy … this isn’t just about gold, it is about how gold becomes guns,” the Daily Caller quoted.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown praised the police’s efforts in a statement to reporters.
“What a great day for public safety … These criminals thought they were more sophisticated than the police. They were wrong,” he said, per The Daily Caller.
The crime involved the theft of 6,600 pure gold bars valued at approximately CA$20 million ($14.5 million), along with CA$2.5 million ($1.8 million) in foreign currency. This gold and currency had just arrived by air at Toronto Pearson International Airport when the heist occurred on April 17, 2023.
The operation leading to the arrests was detailed in a statement by Peel Regional Police (PRP) in Ontario.
During a detailed press conference, Peel Regional Police Deputy Sergeant Mike Mavity explained that the suspects executed a sophisticated operation involving a fraudulent airway bill and a five-ton truck.
The truck, driven by a suspect named Durante King-Mclean, was loaded with the gold after presenting the fraudulent documents to an unwitting Air Canada cargo employee. The vehicle was last seen on surveillance cameras heading into a rural area, making its tracking difficult.
PRP Chief Nishan Duraiappah commented on the unusual nature of the case, saying, “This story is a sensational one, and one which, probably, we jokingly say, belongs in the Netflix series, or something greater than that,” as reported by The Daily Caller.
During the ongoing investigation, authorities conducted extensive searches, as explained by Deputy Sergeant Mavity, investigating over 225 residences and businesses in search of the ill-gotten gold. These efforts led to the recovery of about CA$ 430,000, believed to be part of the profits from the illicit sale of the stolen gold.
The scope of the crime extended beyond the heist, intertwining with illegal arms trafficking. Durante King-Mclean was later apprehended in the U.S. following a traffic stop where he attempted to flee. This led to further discoveries as Special Agent in Charge Eric J. DeGree of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division explained that King-Mclean illegally left Canada for the United States and purportedly fled on foot during a traffic stop late at night.
The magnitude of the operation and the subsequent investigation highlighted the complexity and audacity of the crime, with Peel Regional Chair and PRP Service Board Chair Iannica reflecting on the broader implications, “This is also a story about reverse alchemy … this isn’t just about gold, it is about how gold becomes guns,” the Daily Caller quoted.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown praised the police’s efforts in a statement to reporters.
“What a great day for public safety … These criminals thought they were more sophisticated than the police. They were wrong,” he said, per The Daily Caller.
70-79, M
