Toronto Pearson International Airport. The goods are believed to have been stolen from a cargo holding facility at the airport. (File pic) Photo: AFP
Police are investigating a gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport, a location often used to ship gold mined in the Ontario province.
Canadian officials say more than $C14.8 million ($NZ17.7m) of gold and other valuables were stolen on 17 April.
The "high-value" aircraft container arrived at the airport in the evening and it was transported to a cargo holding facility.
Police believe that is where the heist took place.
"Subsequent to its arrival this high value cargo was removed by illegal means from the holding facility," Peel regional police inspector Stephen Duivesteyn told reporters.
The theft could mark one of the bigger heists in Canadian history, including the 2011 and 2012 Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, when 3000 tonnes of syrup valued at $18.7m were stolen from a storage facility in Quebec.
Duivesteyn said its team was investigating "all avenues" and described Monday's incident as "isolated" and "rare".
He said the aircraft container was about .46 square metres in size, but declined to say how much it weighed.
He also would not say where the aircraft carrying the cargo had come from, or its final destination.
The Toronto Sun reported earlier on Thursday that police thought organised crime groups were involved. Duivesteyn said it was too early to tell.
The BBC has asked the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Pearson Airport for comment.
-BBC/ Reuters