Canada’s national police force is investigating a heist at Canada’s busiest airport that may have netted thieves more than US$100 million worth of gold.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed they are looking into a gold robbery at Pearson International Airport, just outside Toronto. Gold mined in Canada can travel through Pearson on its way to customers around the world.

The airport did not respond to a request for comment. Peel Regional Police, who are responsible for the area, asked for the Mounties’ help, the RCMP said.

The Toronto Sun reported earlier Thursday that 3,600 pounds of gold being moved through the airport had been stolen. The newspaper said the theft was likely linked to organized crime, citing an unnamed police source. 

“We are still trying to get accurate information on the heist,” an RCMP spokesperson said, declining to confirm how much gold is missing. At current prices, 3,600 pounds of gold would be worth about US$105 million.


Theft of $1 million in gold suspends

Argentina mine project


Bloomberg News | April 17, 2023

The Cap­-Oeste project in Argentina. Credit: Patagonia Gold Corp.

Thieves heisted about $1 million of gold from a mining project in southern Argentina run by Vancouver-based Patagonia Gold Corp.


Thieves broke into the gold room at the company’s Cap-Oeste project in the province of Santa Cruz in the early hours of April 17 and escaped with about 500 ounces of gold, the company’s CEO Christopher van Tienhoven said in a statement.

The robbery represents about one month of production from the company’s Lomada and Cap-Oeste mining projects. The company has suspended production pending an investigation and as it implements additional security measures.

Gold was trading at $1,995 an ounce Monday.

(By Scott Squires)