Authorities have announced that arrests have been made in connection with the theft of a cargo container containing gold and other valuables worth over 20 million Canadian dollars ($14.5 million) from Toronto's Pearson International Airport a year ago. Peel Regional Police and the U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Bureau will provide further details during a news conference scheduled for Wednesday.
The incident, which occurred last April, involved the theft of a 'high value' container from a holding area facility shortly after it was unloaded from a plane. The missing goods were reported to the police promptly, although specific details were not disclosed at the time.
Following the theft, Brinks, an American cash handling company, filed a lawsuit against Air Canada. Brinks alleged that a thief managed to abscond with the valuable cargo by presenting a fake document at an Air Canada warehouse on April 17. In response, Air Canada denied all allegations in the lawsuit, asserting that it had fulfilled its carriage contracts and refuting any claims of improper conduct.
Air Canada further contended that Brinks had failed to declare the value of the shipment on the waybill, a document typically issued by the carrier with shipment details. The airline also cited the Montreal Convention, a multilateral treaty that would limit its liability in case of losses suffered by Brinks.
In its Federal Court filings, Brinks claimed breach of contract and sought damages amounting to millions of dollars. The lawsuit alleged that an 'unidentified individual' gained unauthorized access to Air Canada's cargo warehouse and presented a fraudulent waybill following the arrival of a flight from Zurich at Pearson International Airport. Subsequently, the individual made off with 400 kilograms of gold in the form of 24 bars and nearly $2 million in cash.
