Toronto Airport Gold Heist Mastermind Claims Stolen Fortune Was Taken During Kidnapping in Pakistan

BRAMPTON, Ontario, October 14, 2026: A central figure in the sensational $22 million gold robbery at Toronto Pearson International Airport has told an Ontario court that money connected to the heist was taken from him during an alleged kidnapping in Pakistan, adding another dramatic development to one of Canada’s most significant airport theft investigations.

Arsalan Chaudhary, who is serving a four-year prison sentence for his involvement in the April 2023 robbery, made the claims while testifying at the trial of former Air Canada employee Parmpal Sidhu in Brampton, Ontario.

Chaudhary acknowledged his leading role in the elaborate theft, telling the court that he was responsible for organizing the operation that resulted in hundreds of kilograms of gold and a substantial amount of foreign currency disappearing from Canada’s busiest airport.

His testimony has provided new insight into the alleged planning of the robbery, the distribution of the stolen valuables and events that unfolded after some of those involved left Canada.

The former airport employee on trial, Parmpal Sidhu, is accused of helping facilitate the theft by providing an altered document that allegedly allowed the criminals to collect the valuable shipment without authorization.

Sidhu faces charges of theft exceeding $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. He has pleaded not guilty, and the allegations against him remain unproven.

According to police, the April 2023 robbery involved approximately 6,600 gold bars weighing more than 400 kilograms, along with foreign currency. The combined value of the stolen shipment exceeded $22 million.

The extraordinary theft attracted widespread attention because of the scale of the operation and the apparent ease with which a shipment of such enormous value was removed from an airport cargo facility.

Investigators have alleged that the robbery involved individuals familiar with cargo handling procedures and airport operations.

During his testimony, Chaudhary accepted responsibility for the plot, describing the criminal operation as his own undertaking.

His admission is particularly significant because prosecutors are attempting to establish whether other individuals, including Sidhu, knowingly assisted in carrying out the robbery.

Chaudhary also described travelling to Pakistan after the theft, where he claims he became the victim of a kidnapping.

According to his account, money associated with the robbery was taken from him during that incident.

The circumstances of the alleged abduction, including the identities of those responsible and the precise amount of money involved, have not been independently established in the information presented publicly.

His claims introduce an international dimension to the case, raising further questions about the movement of the stolen proceeds and what happened to the valuables after they disappeared from Toronto Pearson Airport.

The court has not determined whether the alleged kidnapping was connected to the original robbery or whether those involved had any knowledge of the stolen shipment.

Chaudhary’s statements form part of his testimony and remain subject to examination during the trial.

The proceedings have also placed renewed attention on the alleged role of an insider in the airport theft.

Prosecutors allege that Sidhu, who previously worked for Air Canada, provided a falsified document that enabled those involved in the robbery to obtain the gold and currency shipment.

The document is central to the prosecution’s case because investigators believe the thieves used manipulated paperwork to secure the release of the cargo.

However, the defence has the opportunity to challenge those allegations and question the evidence linking Sidhu to the crime.

Chaudhary’s acknowledgement that he organized the robbery does not establish the guilt of any other person accused in connection with the incident.

The court must independently assess whether the prosecution can prove Sidhu’s alleged involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.

The gold heist took place in April 2023 and quickly developed into a major criminal investigation involving the disappearance of an exceptionally valuable international shipment.

The stolen cargo contained thousands of gold bars, with a combined weight exceeding 400 kilograms, making the robbery one of the most remarkable cargo thefts in recent Canadian history.

The case raised serious questions about security procedures at major airports, particularly the handling of valuable shipments and the systems used to verify authorized cargo collection.

Investigators have focused on how the shipment was identified, how the necessary documentation was obtained and how the individuals involved allegedly managed to remove the valuables.

The alleged use of falsified paperwork has become an important part of the case because it suggests the operation may have relied on exploiting established cargo release procedures.

Chaudhary’s testimony is expected to help clarify how the robbery was planned and whether the individuals accused of assisting him had prior knowledge of the operation.

His account of the aftermath, including his journey to Pakistan and alleged kidnapping, could also provide investigators with additional information about the fate of the stolen proceeds.

However, his statements must be evaluated alongside other evidence, and his involvement in the crime is an important factor for the court when considering the credibility of his testimony.

The international aspect of the case has attracted particular interest because Chaudhary claims that money obtained through the robbery was subsequently taken from him outside Canada.

The allegation highlights the difficulties investigators can face when proceeds from major criminal operations are moved across international borders.

Recovering stolen assets can become especially complicated when money or valuables pass through multiple individuals or jurisdictions.

In this case, the publicly reported testimony does not establish how much of the stolen property remains recoverable or whether the money Chaudhary claims to have lost during the alleged kidnapping can be traced.

Chaudhary is currently serving his prison sentence after being convicted for his involvement in the heist.

His appearance as a witness represents an important stage in the prosecution of Sidhu, whose alleged participation is now being examined before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

The trial is expected to continue with further questioning about the events surrounding the robbery, the alleged involvement of airport personnel and the subsequent movement of the stolen proceeds.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the case continues to expose the complexity of an operation that resulted in more than $22 million in gold and currency disappearing from a major international airport.

For investigators, the challenge remains establishing the individual roles of those allegedly involved and determining what happened to the stolen fortune.

For the court, the immediate question is whether the evidence presented against Sidhu is sufficient to establish criminal responsibility.

Chaudhary’s account of organizing the robbery and later losing money during an alleged kidnapping in Pakistan has added another layer to a case already marked by extraordinary allegations, international connections and unanswered questions.

More than three years after the theft, the courtroom testimony continues to reveal new details about the planning and aftermath of a robbery that remains among Canada’s most closely watched criminal cases.

Courtesy: CBC