• Canada arrests suspect in country’s largest gold heist after international flight arrival
• Investigation uncovers network including former employees and international accomplices

Canadian authorities arrested a 43-year-old man at Toronto Pearson International Airport in connection with the largest gold theft in the country’s history, following his arrival from an international flight.

Media reports identified the suspect as Arsalan Chaudhary, who investigators say has no fixed address, and was taken into custody by Peel Regional Police.

This marks the latest development in "Project 24K," the intensive investigation into the April 2023 theft of over $20 million worth of gold from Toronto’s main airport.

The heist occurred after a flight from Zurich, Switzerland, landed on April 17, 2023.

The shipment contained approximately 400 kilograms of .9999-purity gold—about 6,600 bars—alongside $2.5 million in foreign currency.

Police said the cargo was unloaded and moved to a storage area within the airport, but disappeared just a few hours later, prompting a multi-agency investigation that crossed Canadian borders.

Investigations increasingly focused on aviation insiders. Among the suspects is Simran Preet Panesar, a 33-year-old former Air Canada employee from Brampton.

Authorities believe Panesar used his access to airline systems to locate and divert the shipment. A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued, but he is believed to be currently in India.

Chaudhary has been charged with theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained through crime, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense.

He is the tenth individual linked to the case through charges or arrest warrants.

Other arrests include another former airline employee, 54-year-old Parmpal Sidhu, several Ontario residents, and 27-year-old Durante King-McLean, currently held in the U.S. on firearms-related charges.