Lawsuit gives new details of Swiss gold and cash heist from Toronto airport
Brink's claims Air Canada recklessly turned over shipment to "unidentified individual" after flight from Zurich in April.
Brink’s Incorporated is suing Air Canada over a heist of gold bars and currency from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport in April, alleging the airline negligently handled the precious cargo and accepted a fraudulent waybill from a thief.
The legal action in Canada’s Federal Court gives new details about the still-unsolved theft of the $23-million shipment after a flight to Toronto from Zurich, Switzerland.
In court documents obtained by the A Few Tasteful Snaps, Brink’s says it was hired by a bank and precious metal company to coordinate the shipment using Air Canada’s “AC Secure” service for high-value cargo.
The shipment included 400 kilograms of gold, worth 13 million Swiss francs (about $20.4 million Canadian) from Valcambia SA, a precious metal refiner, and 53 kilograms of banknotes worth $1,945,843 USD from Swiss bank Raiffeisen Schweiz, the lawsuit says.
The Toronto Dominion bank was listed as the consignee of the shipment.
The shipment arrived in Toronto on Air Canada flight AC881 from Zurich at 3:56 pm on April 17 and was then transferred to the airline’s bonded warehouse.
At around 6:30 p.m.,the lawsuit says, an unidentified individual gained access to the warehouse.
“No security protocols or features were in place to monitor, restrict or otherwise regulate the unidentified individual’s access to the facilities,” Brink’s alleges.
“Once inside, the unidentified individual presented to AC personnel the copy of an airway bill respecting an unrelated shipment (the ‘Fraudulent Waybill’),” and Air Canada released the shipment to the individual, who “absconded with the cargo.”
Brink’s says the crime could have been prevented if the airline properly followed the protocols of the AC Secure service.
“Had AC made the necessary and appropriate inquiries in the circumstances, the unidentified individual’s ability to steal the cargo entrusted to its care would have been entirely avoided.”
Brink’s accuses Air Canada of recklessly breaching their contract to transport the shipment. It says the airline is liable for the full value of the gold and cash under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty on air transport.
“Brink’s demanded full reimbursement for all losses and damages sustained by it as a result of the theft,” the lawsuit says, but, “there has no (sic) response from AC.”
None of the allegations in the lawsuit has been proved in court. Air Canada has yet to file a response to Brink’s application.
“As this is matter is now before the courts, we are unable to provide a comment,” Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email.
Got here from a hyperlink in the Globe and Mail. Well done on shedding more light into this case. Looking forward to anything else you may dig up.
I'm embarrassed about Canada's lack of security on the gold heist. And why are they hiring people who steal. Consequences should be deporting back to their country of origin. Or family's origin.