It reads like a Hollywood script: a brazen midday theft of over **$20 million** worth of gold and cash from one of North America’s busiest airports, a suspect fleeing to Dubai, and now—Canadian police pointing fingers toward India. But this isn’t fiction. This is the real-life saga of the Pearson Airport gold heist, an audacious crime that has triggered a high-stakes international investigation dubbed **Project 24K** .
On January 13, 2026, authorities confirmed the arrest of Arsalan Chaudhary, who was taken into custody the moment his flight from Dubai landed in Toronto. He faces multiple charges, including theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and conspiracy. But the bigger question looms: who else was involved? And why do investigators now believe a key player is living freely in India?
Table of Contents
- The Heist: How $20M in Gold Vanished from Pearson Airport
- Project 24K: Inside the RCMP’s Investigation
- Who Is Arsalan Chaudhary? Details of the Arrest
- The Second Suspect: Why Police Believe He’s in India
- Challenges in International Law Enforcement Cooperation
- What This Heist Reveals About Airport Security Gaps
- What Happens Next in the Case?
- Sources
The Heist: How $20M in Gold Vanished from Pearson Airport
The original crime occurred in April 2023 at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest aviation hub. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), thieves targeted a secure cargo area where a shipment of gold bars and foreign currency—destined for a bank—was being transferred.
Using inside knowledge or compromised access, the perpetrators bypassed multiple layers of security and made off with:
- Approximately **3,700 kilograms of gold** (valued at ~$20 million CAD)
- A significant but undisclosed amount of **cash in multiple currencies**
The entire operation took less than 30 minutes, suggesting meticulous planning and possible insider involvement—a detail that has haunted the investigation ever since .
Project 24K: Inside the RCMP’s Investigation
Dubbed **Project 24K**—a nod to the purity of gold—the RCMP launched one of its most complex financial crime probes in recent years. The team includes specialists in organized crime, cyber forensics, and international liaison.
Early breakthroughs came from tracking financial transactions and travel records. Investigators discovered that shortly after the heist, large sums of money were moved through shell companies in the UAE, and suspects began traveling between Canada, Dubai, and South Asia .
Who Is Arsalan Chaudhary? Details of the Arrest
Arsalan Chaudhary, a Canadian citizen with reported ties to both Pakistan and India, had been on the run since late 2023. His arrest at Pearson Airport—of all places—marks a major win for law enforcement.
According to court documents, Chaudhary allegedly played a logistical role: coordinating transport, managing communications, and possibly laundering proceeds. His return from Dubai, where he’d been living under minimal scrutiny, suggests either overconfidence or a belief that the heat had died down .
The Second Suspect: Why Police Believe He’s in India
While Chaudhary’s arrest is significant, the RCMP insists the mastermind—or at least a critical accomplice—remains at large. Citing digital evidence, phone metadata, and financial trails, they now believe this individual is residing in **India**, possibly in Delhi or Mumbai .
This claim raises complex legal questions. India and Canada have an extradition treaty, but the process is notoriously slow and politically sensitive. Without concrete evidence admissible in Indian courts, securing cooperation could prove difficult. Moreover, if the suspect holds Indian citizenship, extradition becomes even less likely.
Challenges in International Law Enforcement Cooperation
Cases like the Pearson Airport gold heist expose the fragile nature of cross-border justice. As noted by Interpol, “Financial crimes with transnational elements often outpace legal frameworks” .
Key hurdles include:
- Differences in legal standards for evidence
- Delays in mutual legal assistance requests
- Lack of real-time intelligence sharing
- Political considerations in high-profile cases
What This Heist Reveals About Airport Security Gaps
Beyond the chase, the heist has sparked a global review of airport cargo security. Airports are designed to protect passengers, but high-value cargo zones often rely on third-party handlers with varying security protocols.
Experts at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have called for stricter vetting of ground staff, real-time GPS tracking of precious shipments, and mandatory biometric access to secure zones .
What Happens Next in the Case?
Chaudhary is expected to appear in a Toronto court soon. Meanwhile, the RCMP is working with Indian agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and INTERPOL New Delhi to locate the second suspect. If successful, this could lead to one of the rare Canada-to-India extraditions in a financial crime case.
For now, the gold remains missing—likely melted down and recast. But for investigators, recovering the loot is secondary to delivering justice. As one officer told reporters: “This wasn’t just about gold. It was about trust in our systems.”
Stay updated on global crime trends by exploring our deep dive on [INTERNAL_LINK:how-airport-heists-are-evolving-in-the-digital-age].
Sources
- Times of India. “$20m gold heist in Canada: One arrested, another suspect ‘believed to be in India'”. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). “Project 24K: Update on Pearson Airport Gold Theft.” https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ [[7], [8]]
- Interpol. “Transnational Financial Crime Challenges.” https://www.interpol.int/
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). “Security Standards for Air Cargo.” https://www.icao.int/