Police in Canada announced Thursday that they are investigating
the theft of more than $15 million worth of gold
and other "high-value" assets at the Toronto airport.
The bullion and other valuables arrived Monday night in a container that was unloaded from a plane and
stored securely
at the cargo facility, Stephen Duivesteyn, Peel's regional police inspector, told a news conference.
The shipment, of more than one and a half tons, was reported missing
shortly after.
Duivesteyn said the "high-value container was
illegally removed
from the facility" but would not comment on details of the theft or who might be behind it.
"Our researchers have their eyes open to all the possibilities," said the person in charge.
"We are evaluating from all angles how it was stolen."
According to police sources cited by The Toronto Sun newspaper, the assailant
must have had information from someone
inside the airport.
The same outlet reported that -according to anonymous sources-
the thieves took 3,600 pounds of gold
(1,600 kg) and that the authorities are investigating organized crime groups in the region.
Such a shipment would be worth close to US$100 million.
However, the police indicated that
the losses are around 15 million dollars
, so the local press speculates that the thieves would not have taken all the loot that the lot had.
"It's quite unusual," Duivesteyn said, describing the theft as an isolated incident with no impact on travelers.
The officer added that it was too soon to determine if it was a professional robbery or a crime of opportunity.
Everything is wrapped in a striking
mystery and disorientation
.
The Greater Toronto Airport Authority confirmed to CTV News that the thieves gained access to the public area of a
third-party
leased warehouse
outside of the airport's primary security line and that this did not constitute entry into the airport or any threat to passengers or staff. airport staff.
The gold—along with an unknown number of
bills
—is believed to have been sent as part of an
intrabank transaction
.
A confidential memo published by The Sun stated that the bank in question was TD while
the airline was Air Canada
.
Both entities denied being involved.
Mystery and intrigues for a multi-million gold robbery at Torotno airport.
Photo Carlos Osorio / Reuters
Maple syrup, plane hijackings, and other iconic heists
The theft took place at Canada's largest airport, which is also a frequent route through which precious minerals pass.
Ontario, the province where the assault occurred, produces about
a fifth of the minerals mined in Canada.
This coup could be the largest in Canadian history, even surpassing an iconic assault for that country, when a
gang stole 3,000 tons of maple syrup
, a kind of honey that is that country's flagship brand. .
The value of that cargo
was estimated at
$13 million .
The gold theft at a Canadian airport could be the largest robbery in the country's history.
Illustrative photo Reuters
The "Great Maple Syrup Robbery" took place over several months between 2011 and 2012, when a gang smuggled syrup from a local factory.
Five ringleaders were arrested.
The case inspired a documentary on Netflix and a comedy on Amazon.
Another iconic robbery occurred in 1990, at Montreal's Dorval International Airport, when armed robbers ambushed
a private plane
and made off with $13.7 million worth of gold bars and other valuables.
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