US-based security firm Brink’s International has initiated a lawsuit against Air Canada regarding the theft of gold bars and cash valued at over C$20 million ($15 million) from Toronto’s airport in April. Brink’s alleges that Air Canada acted recklessly and failed to prevent the theft, which is one of Canada’s largest heists in history.
The stolen items included gold bars weighing 400.19 kilogrammes and $2 million in cash. The theft, which took place on April 14, attracted significant international attention, and the case remains unsolved by the authorities.
In the lawsuit filed in the Federal Court of Canada on October 6, Brink’s explained that it was hired by a bank and a precious metal company to oversee the shipment of the valuable goods. The theft occurred just 42 minutes after the items were unloaded from an Air Canada flight that had recently arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport from Zurich, Switzerland.
According to the lawsuit, an unidentified person gained access to the warehouse where the valuables were stored at around 18:30 local time. Brink’s alleged that there were no security protocols or features in place to monitor or restrict the individual’s access to the facility. The person purportedly entered the facility by presenting an airway bill for an unrelated shipment to an Air Canada employee, who then released the cargo to the individual.
Brink’s claimed that Air Canada staff failed to verify the waybill’s authenticity and argued that the theft could have been prevented if the airline had properly followed its security guidelines. Brink’s is seeking full reimbursement from Air Canada for the value of the stolen goods.
As of now, Air Canada has not publicly commented on the allegations, and the BBC has reached out to the airline for a statement. The heist in question ranks among Canada’s largest, joining notable cases such as the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heists of 2011 and 2012, during which approximately 3,000 metric tonnes of syrup valued at $18.7 million were stolen from a storage facility in Quebec.
