An Indian-origin man, 36-year-old Archit Grover, has been apprehended in Canada in connection with the audacious theft of gold from Toronto Pearson International Airport in April 2023, making it the largest gold heist in Ottawa’s history. Grover’s arrest comes almost a month after the apprehension of nine individuals implicated in the sensational gold and cash robbery.
In April 2023, a cargo container containing 6,600 bars of pure gold, weighing a substantial 400 kilograms and valued at over $20 million, was audaciously stolen from a secure storage facility using forged documents. The cargo container had arrived on a flight originating from Zurich, Switzerland, and after landing at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, the cargo was unloaded and transported to a separate secure location, only to be reported missing shortly thereafter.
According to India Today, Peel Regional Police stated that on April 17, 2023, at 3:56 pm, a flight arrived at Pearson International Airport from Zurich, Switzerland, carrying a cargo containing 6,600 bars of .9999% pure gold, weighing 400 kilograms and valued at over $20 million, along with CAD 2.5 million worth of foreign currency. Shortly after landing, the cargo was offloaded and transported to a separate location on airport property.
Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah remarked that the incident was extraordinary and akin to a captivating Netflix series.
During the course of the investigation, authorities apprehended Grover at Pearson International Airport upon his arrival from India. Grover is not only implicated in the gold heist but is also facing firearm-related charges in the United States.
As per a report by PTI, a Canada-wide arrest warrant was issued against Grover for alleged theft exceeding 5,000 Canadian dollars and conspiracy to commit an indictable criminal act.
The investigation is ongoing, with two suspects, Simran Preet Panesar, a 31-year-old former Air Canada employee from Brampton who was employed at the time of the theft, and Arsalan Chaudhary, who has no fixed address, still at large. Canada-wide warrants remain in effect for their apprehension.
