Nine people have been arrested and search warrants are out for three others in last year’s $14.77 million (20 million Canadian dollars) gold heist from the Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canadian officials announced Wednesday.
Police have only recovered six pure gold bracelets worth over $65,000 — a fraction of the gold that was stolen from a holding cargo facility last April. Authorities announced the arrests on the one-year anniversary of the heist.
Police say 6,600 bars of pure gold weighing over 400 kilograms and foreign cash amounting to around $1.8 million were stolen in the heist. They believe that the thieves melted down the gold, sold it and then used the profits to purchase illegal firearms as part of a trafficking operation, Peel Regional Police Detective Sgt. Mike Mavity said at a press conference Wednesday.
Police have seized $312,000 worth of cash, which they believe are some of the profits suspects made after selling the gold.
Police also seized smelting pots, casts and molds, which they believe were used to change the composition of the gold bars, according to Mavity.
They also found two lists accounting for $7.21 million and $10.23 million at two separate locations.
