Canadian authorities are investigating a suspected heist of C$20mln (£12mln) worth of gold from a holding facility at Toronto Pearson Airport earlier this week.
A “high-value” five-square-foot container disappeared from a holding facility at the airport after being offloaded from a flight on Monday evening, according to regional inspector Stephen Duivesteyn.
Some 1.6 tonnes of gold bullion was housed in the container, local publication the Toronto Sun reported, with the heist marking one of the largest ever in Canada’s history.
"This is very rare," Duivesteyn said, adding authorities were still unsure whether it had been an opportunistic or organised crime. "We're looking at all angles on how this item was stolen."
Toronto Pearson is often used as a hub to export gold mined in Canada’s Ontario province.
Duivesteyn was unable to give specific details of airlines involved or where the gold was headed, but confirmed the container was taken “by illegal means”.