Investigators say the 43-year-old arrived from Dubai and faces theft and conspiracy charges in the 2023 Pearson cargo robbery.
TORONTO, CANADA — Police in Peel Region arrested a 43-year-old man suspected of helping plan Canada’s largest gold theft as he landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, nearly three years after thieves walked off with a cargo container packed with gold bars and cash.
Authorities identified the suspect as Arsalan Chaudhary and said he was taken into custody after a flight from Dubai. He is charged with theft over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. The arrest marks a new turn in “Project 24K,” the joint cross-border probe launched after the April 2023 theft of about 400 kilograms of gold — 6,600 bars — and $2.5 million in foreign currency from an Air Canada cargo facility at Pearson. Investigators say most of the gold was likely melted and trafficked, with only a small portion of proceeds recovered to date.
Chaudhary was held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. Police said he is among the last outstanding figures tied to the theft and that the investigation remains active with partners in the United States. “This investigation demonstrates the dedication and expertise of Peel Regional Police in tackling complex, high-stakes crime,” Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in a statement. Detectives previously outlined how a driver used a forged airway bill to claim the sealed container hours after it was unloaded from a flight arriving from Zurich, then drove away undiscovered until a scheduled pickup by a security carrier the next day.
Since April 2024, police have named a roster of suspects and laid more than 20 charges while coordinating with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Earlier arrests included a man detained in Pennsylvania with dozens of firearms that investigators linked to proceeds of the heist, and several suspects released on bail in Ontario. Police and court records describe an operation that relied on insider access at the cargo building and basic paperwork manipulation rather than force. Officials say approximately one kilogram of gold and hundreds of thousands of dollars in suspected proceeds have been seized, but the bulk of the precious metal is unaccounted for. Authorities have not publicly detailed how the shipment was tracked out of the warehouse after it left the airport grounds.
The theft set off a high-profile dispute between Brink’s, which handled the shipment for clients in Switzerland, and Air Canada, which processed it at Pearson. Brink’s alleges negligence at the cargo facility; Air Canada has contested liability while acknowledging employment actions tied to the case. Police have said two airline employees were implicated, calling the caper an “inside job” built on access and timing rather than violence. The heist drew comparisons to scripted dramas for its simplicity and scale, even as investigators emphasized routine vulnerabilities exploited within a busy cargo operation. Local officials also fielded questions about the regional impact of illicit gold flows and links to separate gun-trafficking cases.
With Chaudhary’s arrest, two men remain outstanding in Peel’s case file. Investigators say a Canada-wide warrant is in place for former Air Canada employee Simran Preet Panesar, believed to be outside the country, and a bench warrant remains for Prasath Paramalingam after a missed court date in 2024. A separate warrant also names Durante King-Mclean on theft and possession counts; he has pleaded guilty in the U.S. to firearms trafficking and awaits sentencing. Police did not immediately release Chaudhary’s next court date or say whether additional charges are anticipated as evidence is reviewed. Extradition discussions, search efforts and forensic accounting continue across several jurisdictions.
Travelers arriving at Pearson on Monday described a routine morning in Terminal 1 while plainclothes officers moved in near an arrivals gate. Nearby, cargo trucks came and went along airside service roads, a scene unchanged from the day in 2023 when investigators say a five-ton truck pulled up with a duplicate airway bill and left with millions in bullion. “It’s surreal that someone would try to land back here,” said Prem Gill, who was waiting for a relative’s flight. “You’d think this case scared everyone off.” Outside the Brampton courthouse, a small group watched as officers escorted the accused inside for the bail hearing, declining to comment on whether he would seek release.
As of late Monday, police said the investigation remains open, with search efforts focused on two wanted suspects and any financial trails tied to melted gold. Officials said they plan further briefings if additional arrests occur or if more assets are recovered in the coming weeks.
Author note: Last updated January 12, 2026.