TORONTO – Nearly three years after the largest gold heist in Canadian history, Peel Regional Police have apprehended a man described as a “principal planner” of the operation. Arsalan Chaudhary, 43, was arrested on Monday, January 12, 2026, as he stepped off a flight arriving from Dubai—the very airport where the stolen cargo was once destined to pass through.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Arrest and Charges
Chaudhary had been the subject of a Canada-wide warrant for months. Upon his arrival at Pearson International Airport, he was taken into custody without incident. He now faces several serious charges, including:
- Theft over $5,000
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- Possession of property obtained by crime (two counts)
The Investigation Thus Far
This arrest marks the tenth individual charged in connection with “Project 24K.” Investigators have long maintained that the heist was an “inside job” facilitated by employees within the airline industry.
While the 400 kg of gold bars (valued at over $20 million) and $2.5 million in cash have not been fully recovered, police believe the majority of the gold was melted down. The proceeds were allegedly used to finance a large-scale illegal firearms trafficking ring, linking the heist to broader organized crime.
Fugitives Still at Large
Despite Chaudhary’s arrest, two primary suspects remain at large:
- Simran Preet Panesar: A former Air Canada manager believed to be hiding in India.
- Prasath Paramalingam: A Brampton man currently wanted on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court.
Background: On April 17, 2023, a suspect used a forged waybill to trick warehouse staff into releasing a massive shipment of gold and cash that had just arrived from Switzerland. The cargo was loaded into a truck and vanished in under 40 minutes.
