Simran Preet Panesar, Wanted in Canada, Questioned in Punjab
Mohali, India: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided the residence of Simran Preet Panesar, a 32-year-old former Air Canada manager, in connection with the massive gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport in April 2023. Panesar, who is facing a Canada-wide warrant for his alleged role in the robbery, was questioned by ED officials at his home in Sector 79, Mohali.
According to ED sources, the central agency has launched a money-laundering probe into the case, investigating whether the stolen gold or its proceeds were funneled into India.
Canada’s Biggest Gold Heist
On April 17, 2023, an air cargo container carrying 400 kg of .9999 pure gold, valued at over 20 million Canadian dollars (CAD), along with 2.5 million CAD in foreign currency, was stolen from a secure storage facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The cargo had arrived on an Air Canada flight from Zurich and was en route to a bank in Toronto when it went missing.
Peel Regional Police (PRP) described it as the “biggest gold heist in Canada ever” and, after a year-long investigation, charged nine individuals, including Panesar, in April 2024. However, the stolen gold remains unrecovered, with only 90,000 CAD retrieved so far.
International Investigation Underway
Panesar and another accused, Parampal Sidhu, were working at Toronto Pearson’s warehouse facility at the time of the heist. While Canadian authorities continue their efforts to track down the missing gold, Indian officials are now probing potential financial links to the country.
The ED’s involvement marks a rare instance of the agency investigating a transnational crime, underscoring the global impact of the high-profile gold robbery.
