Canada’s national police force is investigating a heist at the country’s busiest airport that may have netted thieves millions of dollars in gold and other valuables.
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According to media reports, Peel Regional Police said a container with more than C$20 million ($14.8 million) in gold and other items was taken from a cargo holding area at Pearson International Airport, just outside Toronto. The plane carrying the cargo landed there Monday, police said.
Duty Inspector Stephen Duivesteyn told media, police are investigating the theft that took place early Monday evening after a plane that arrived at the airport was unloaded and its cargo transported to a holding facility.
“Once this cargo was offloaded at a holding facility, subsequent to its arrival, this high-value container was removed by illegal means,” said Duivesteyn.
“The container contained a high-value shipment. It did contain gold, but was not exclusive to gold, and contained other items of monetary value.”
The “very rare” theft is believed to be an isolated incident, Duivesteyn said, noting there are no concerns for travel or public safety at the airport.
Earlier, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed to Bloomberg that they were looking into a gold robbery. Gold mines in Canada often transits through Pearson.
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