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Convicted murderer Rabih Alkhalil has been arrested in Qatar after escaping from a B.C. jail in 2022, the RCMP says.
Alkhalil, 38, was taken into custody in Qatar this month, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) and the RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region confirmed in a Sept. 25 news release. The release does not specify what day Alkhalil was arrested, but notes that he was using an alias.
After CFSEU-BC and RCMP investigators pursued Alkhalil for more than three years, the pursuit came to an end with the help of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, the release says. The police agencies say they are now working with Interpol and international partners to return Alkhalil to Canada.
“We are extremely grateful to the Ministry of Interior – Qatar for their assistance in the arrest of Rabih Alkhalil,” CFSEU-BC Assistant Commissioner Manny Mann said in a Sept. 25 statement. “Through their exceptional diligence, investigators ensured the apprehension of a dangerous fugitive who might otherwise still be outstanding today.”
Alkhalil is said to be a de facto leader of an organized crime consortium called the Wolfpack Alliance which has connections to the Hells Angels and is engaged in large-scale cocaine trafficking.
He was convicted of two separate murder charges in 2012—the first one in Toronto and the second one in Vancouver. Alkhalil was detained at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre located in Port Coquitlam, B.C., facing murder charges when he made his escape on July 21, 2022. He managed to escape by masquerading as a contractor, aided by two accomplices who were also disguised as contractors.
Alkhalil was on Canada’s top 25 most-wanted list and a reward of up to $100,000 was offered by Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers and the Be On the Lookout (BOLO) Program for information that would lead to his capture.
“The arrest of Rabih Alkhalil marks the end of one of the most complex fugitive investigations Bolo has seen since its creation,” BOLO executive director Max Langlois said in a Sept. 25 statement. “To the BC RCMP and CFSEU-BC investigators who have worked tirelessly on this case for the past 3 years: thank you for never giving up.”
While some media outlets had reported earlier this month that Alkhalil had been arrested in Qatar, RCMP media relations spokesperson Tammy Lobb said he remained at large. She said the RCMP could not confirm Alkhalil was arrested at that time.
The BC Prosecution Service approved charges against three men earlier this month in connection with Alkhalil’s escape. Ottawa residents Edward Ayoub and John Potvin, and Ryan Van Gool of Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., each face conspiracy to commit a prison breach and prison breach charges, according to a Sept. 8 news release.
Van Gool was arrested on Sept. 5 along with 28-year-old Bryce Telford and 61-year-old Scott Telford, both of Surrey, in connection with a conspiracy to murder an individual in Kamloops, B.C., in March 2024.
They are facing charges for possessing a loaded restricted firearm and a loaded prohibited firearm. Van Gool has also been charged with discharging a firearm with intent.
The RCMP said Potvin’s whereabouts were unknown on Sept. 8 and he was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant. However, investigators were notified through Ottawa Interpol on Sept. 19 that Potvin had been arrested in Spain, a Sept. 20 news release says. The CFSEU-BC and RCMP said they are working with Interpol and international partners to also return Potvin to Canada.
