(Toronto) On a cool, rainy April day, a thief entered Air Canada’s glass-walled warehouse at Toronto’s Pearson Airport, presented a false document and left with some 23 millions in gold and cash.
That’s what a lawsuit filed against Canada’s largest airline by Brink’s claims following a gold theft in Toronto last spring.
In court filings, the US security company claims an “unidentified individual” gained access to the airline’s cargo warehouse on April 17 and presented a “fraudulent” waybill — a document usually issued by a carrier with shipping details — to Air Canada personnel.
Staff then handed over 400 kilograms of gold – worth around 13.6 million Swiss francs, or more than 20 million – as well as almost 2 million in cash to the thief, who quickly “fled with the cargo,” the statement said.
Claiming breach of contract, Brink’s is seeking approximately 23 million in damages, as well as special damages.
The suit claims Air Canada was “negligent” and failed to take “appropriate security measures” to prevent the cargo from being stolen.
The airline declined to comment on the case because it is before the courts. The carrier has not yet filed a statement of defense and its allegations have not been tested in court.
Two Swiss companies – precious metals refinery Valcambi SA and retail bank Raiffeisen Switzerland – have commissioned Brink’s to ensure the security and logistics of expensive packages – gold and cash respectively – and to compensate them for any losses, according to the complaint.
Brink’s made arrangements in mid-April for Air Canada to fly the cargo to Toronto from Zurich.
It was delivered to the Toronto airport just before 4 p.m. on April 17, dropped off at an Air Canada warehouse on site at 5:50 p.m. and picked up by the mystery thief, who arrived about 40 minutes later, according to the documents.
A police investigation is ongoing, with no arrests made so far, and the shipments have still not been able to be seized, according to the statement.
