It isn’t every day that $160,000 in silver bars vanishes between cities, only to surface quietly in Orillia. The recovery has set tongues wagging across Ontario’s precious metals circles and left police piecing together a puzzle that reaches from London to Ottawa.
The story began on a routine shipment to the Royal Canadian Mint. Silver bars and coins, loaded for the journey east, never reached their destination. Early August marked the moment the precious cargo slipped from sight. For the Mint, accustomed to handling the nation’s wealth, the loss was more than a line item—it was a breach of trust in a tightly controlled chain.
Enter the Orillia Ontario Provincial Police Major Crime Unit. On August 21, detectives caught wind of suspicious sales of precious metals to a local business. It was a small lead, nearly lost in the static of daily reports, but it hinted at a story much larger than a quick profit. Working in concert with detectives in Ottawa and London, OPP followed the trail straight to Orillia, where the missing silver—bars and coins alike—was discovered.
Police soon identified two men from Ottawa, aged 41 and 47, as the central figures in the alleged theft. Both men now face charges of possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000. They have been released with a future court date in Orillia, while the investigation continues.
The recovery of the silver has sent a chill through those who move valuables across Ontario’s highways. For the Royal Canadian Mint, it’s a reminder even the most guarded shipments can go astray. For Orillia, the case is a stark lesson in how global markets and local streets can collide, sometimes with consequences measured in kilograms and court summonses.
While the fate of the accused will be decided in court, the OPP’s work continues. Detectives are appealing to anyone with relevant information to step forward, holding out hope for more answers—and perhaps, more surprises—before this story is finished.
References:
$160K worth of silver bars and coins discovered in Orillia
