In 2023, the Toronto Pearson Airport witnessed the country’s biggest gold heist as Arsalan Chaudhary masterminded a theft of 6,600 gold bars valued at $22. 5 million along with millions in foreign cash. Two Air Canada employees (now former) were also part of it as the cargo arrived at an Air Canada warehouse and was handed over to the wrong person who showed fake bills.
Three years after, Chaudhary who was arrested in January, admitted to the heist in a court Monday, the Toronto Star reported giving the details of what transpired in the court.
A handwritten ‘debt list’ was found from Chaudhary where he noted down who would get what amount from the proceeds of the gold heist.
The gold got melted and the proceeds went to those designated persons. Crown attorney Jelena Vlacic detailed the money list police found in Chaudhary’s apartment — a $10. 3-million ledger he’d penned to track the distribution of profits from the melted gold.
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An unidentified group got a $5-million payout
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$1M to the “boss”
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$200,000 for “Tommy”
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$150,000 to a “driver”
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$80,000 for a “boat”
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$250,000 for a “condo”
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“40K” to “parents”.
Chaudhary was arrested at Pearson airport last January, after flying in from Dubai in an arrangement made through his lawyers.
The melting and sale of the gold took place in the basement of a Mississauga jewelry store weeks after the theft.
police said they only recovered about $90,000 of the gold.
After the theft, the getaway driver, Durante King-McLean, fled to the US and stayed at an Airbnb booked in the name of Chaudhary’s brother, court heard. Chaudhary said he arranged for the driver’s escape but his brother knew nothing about it. In September 2023, King-McLean was arrested after a traffic stop near Harrisburg, Penn. Police seized 65 handguns that were destined for Canada and two cell phones.
