Full Breakdown
Trial of Parmpal Sidhu Begins in Brampton Over $20 Million Pearson Airport Gold Heist
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Trial Commences
A court in Brampton, Ontario, opened proceedings in early October 2026 for Parmpal Sidhu, who faces charges of theft over $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. The case follows the Crown’s decision to drop charges against two other alleged participants, jeweller Ali Raza and Amit Jalota.
The 2023 Pearson Airport Gold Heist
On April 17, 2023, Peel Regional Police reported that 6,600 gold bars weighing more than 400 kilograms were stolen from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, with an estimated value exceeding $20 million. Police say the gold and foreign currency were ordered from a refinery in Zurich, Switzerland, and shipped in the hull of an Air Canada flight. After arrival, the cargo was off-loaded to an Air Canada facility, where a suspect allegedly presented a fraudulent airway bill that led warehouse staff to load the shipment onto a five-tonne truck.
Legal Landscape and Related Cases
Earlier in 2024, Arsalan Chaudhary pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 for his role in the same operation. He received a four-year prison sentence and was ordered to repay $22 million in restitution. A separate Canadian individual linked to the heist was sentenced in the United States to 13 years for gun-running. Another accused, Archit Grover, is slated to stand trial later in the fall of 2026.
Data and Financial Impact
- Gold bars stolen: 6,600
- Total weight: >400 kg
- Estimated market value: >$20 million
- Restitution ordered for Chaudhary: $22 million
- Charges withdrawn: Ali Raza (jeweller) and Amit Jalota