Canada Seeks Extradition of Key Suspect in 2023 $20 Million Gold Heist from India

Canadian authorities have formally requested India to extradite Simran Preet Panesar, a former Air Canada employee and key suspect in the April 2023 theft of over 20 million worth of gold from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Panesar is accused of using insider knowledge to divert a shipment of approximately 400 kilograms of gold and foreign currency. While Panesar is believed to be in India, Canadian police have arrested another suspect, Arsalan Chaudhary, in Canada. The investigation, known as Project 24K, involves multiple charges against ten individuals, with much of the stolen gold still unrecovered. Indian agencies have conducted searches and are coordinating with Canadian authorities on related money laundering probes.