Canada's biggest gold heist suspect traced to Chandigarh
What's the story
Simran Preet Panesar, a 31-year-old former Air Canada manager, is wanted for allegedly stealing over 22 million Canadian dollars (₹13.3 crore) worth of gold bars and foreign currency.
The heist occurred on April 17, 2023, when a cargo container loaded with valuables was stolen from Toronto's Pearson International Airport.
The cargo had arrived on an Air Canada flight from Zurich, Switzerland.
Suspect profile
Panesar's current location and family details revealed
Panesar has been traced to the outskirts of Chandigarh, India, where he lives with his family in a rented accommodation.
His wife, Preety Panesar, a former Miss India Uganda and not believed to be involved in the heist, lives with him.
Panesar's whereabouts were traced by a joint team of The Indian Express and CBC News.
After the heist, Panesar reportedly led police on a tour of the cargo facility before leaving Canada for India.
Heist specifics
Details of the stolen cargo and other suspects
The stolen cargo consisted of 6,600 bars of .9999 pure gold weighing 400kg and foreign currency worth CA$2.5 million.
Several suspects tied to the theft have been arrested, including Archit Grover and Parmpal Sidhu.
Investigators seized one kilogram of gold and CA$434,000 believed to be linked to the heist.
Authorities believe two former Air Canada employees helped facilitate the theft as insiders at the warehouse facility.
Probe progress
Ongoing investigation and recovery efforts
The Peel Regional Police's investigation into the heist is ongoing under 'Project 24Karat.' Officers have spent over 28,000 hours uncovering details of the crime.
Despite efforts to recover more stolen assets, only six pure gold bracelets worth over $89,000 have been retrieved so far.
Detective Sergeant Mike Mavity suggested that much of the stolen gold may have been smelted and sold overseas shortly after the incident.