Toronto airport gold heist suspect sees charges dropped

Charges against Ammad Chaudhary, accused in the audacious 2023 Toronto Pearson Airport gold heist, have been dropped. The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed the withdrawal of charges in Brampton Superior Court on April 9.

The two withdrawn charges against Chaudhary were conspiracy to commit theft over $5,000 and accessory after the fact. Court documents indicate the Crown decided to withdraw these charges after a co-accused, Arsalan Chaudhary, pleaded guilty and was sentenced the day prior.

Ammad Chaudhary was among nine individuals initially charged in connection with the theft of approximately $20 million worth of gold bars. The heist occurred on April 17, 2023, from an Air Canada cargo facility at the airport. Police alleged that a suspect used a fraudulent airway bill to claim the cargo, which had arrived on a flight from Zurich, Switzerland.

The remaining eight accused are scheduled to stand trial beginning September 28. The reason for the withdrawal of charges against Ammad Chaudhary was not immediately provided by court staff.