Peel Regional Police have announced multiple arrests in connection with the largest gold heist in Canadian history, which took place at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year. The heist, which involved the theft of 6,600 gold bars valued at over $20 million along with $2.5 million in cash, garnered international attention in 2023.
According to Det. Sgt. Mike Mavity, the stolen gold and currency were part of a shipment ordered from a refinery in Zurich, Switzerland, and transported via an Air Canada flight to Toronto. The suspects allegedly utilized a fraudulent airway bill to deceive airport staff and facilitate the theft, loading the cargo onto a truck and fleeing the scene.
Subsequent investigations led to the identification and arrest of nine individuals, including an Air Canada employee, a jewelry store owner, and several others from various locations in the Greater Toronto Area. Canada-wide arrest warrants have been issued for additional suspects, including a former Air Canada employee believed to be involved in the theft.
One of the key suspects, Durante King-Mclean from Brampton, was apprehended by Pennsylvania police in September 2023 while in possession of illegal firearms. Authorities suspect that individuals involved in the gold theft may also be linked to firearms trafficking activities.
Eric DeGree, a special agent for the U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau, highlighted King-Mclean’s illegal status in the U.S. and suggested that the firearms seized during his arrest were intended for Canada. Cooperation between U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies has been crucial in investigating these interconnected criminal activities.
