Canadian prosecutors withdrew charges last week against Amit Jalota and Ali Raza in the 2023 Toronto gold heist; both had been accused of possessing stolen gold or currency linked to the crime. Other cases tied to the theft are still moving through the courts.
More than 6,500 gold bars worth C$20m (US$14.5m; £11.6m), along with millions in cash, were stolen from a cargo facility at Toronto Pearson Airport in April 2023. Police allege someone gained access using a fake airway bill; a truck was then used to take the roughly 400kg of gold.
Lawyers for Jalota and Raza said their clients had maintained their innocence and were relieved the charges were withdrawn. Jalota’s lawyer said the allegations had upended his life. One man was sentenced in Canada to four years for helping plan the theft. Another received 160 months in the US after pleading guilty to conspiring to traffic firearms; Canadian police alleged money for the guns came from the heist. Two other accused, who say they are not guilty, are due to face separate trials later this year.
