$20 million in gold heist from Pearson Airport in Mississauga

Peel Regional Police have provided details about a $20 million gold heist from Pearson Airport in Mississauga.

Chief investigator Inspector Stephen Duivesteyn and Peel media officers hosted a press conference at the airport at 6:30 p.m. on April 20. Officers said they launched their investigation three days prior on April 17.

However, given the young life of the investigation, police could not share much detail, but said they “have their best people on it” and are working with other relevant agencies, such as the RCMP.

Duivestyn stressed that the investigation is still a Peel Police matter and they remain the lead investigative force despite the two services’ close working relationship.

A “high-value container” of an estimated five to six feet in size, full of gold and other unspecified high-value items, was stolen from a cargo holding facility at the airport, Diuvestyn said. He could not specify how the large container was removed from the facility.

A plane landed at Pearson Airport on the evening on April 17. As is standard procedure, all cargo was taken off the plane and sent to a cargo holding facility. At this point, the cargo was “illegally removed.” Police did not specify which airline was responsible for the cargo, nor who it belonged to.

However, Diuvestyn stressed this is a rare occurrence. Police believe this theft was an isolated event and there is no further risk to public safety. As of the media briefing, they had made no arrests.

In a statement released late on April 20, Greater Toronto Airports Authority GTAA), the operator of Pearson Airport, said  is aware of the theft that took place this week.

“The GTAA wishes to clarify that thieves accessed the public side of a warehouse that is leased to a third party, outside of our primary security line,” the statement reads. “This did not involve access to Toronto Pearson itself and did not pose a threat to passengers or GTAA staff.”