In July 2022, a dramatic prison break shocked British Columbia. Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil, a man with a long criminal history, escaped from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam. At the time, he was awaiting trial for murder.
The escape was well-planned. Two men disguised as contractors arrived at the jail in a white van. They managed to trick their way inside and helped Alkhalil break free. Since then, Alkhalil has been one of the most wanted fugitives in Canada, with police across the country searching for him.
Alkhalil, now 38, is originally from Montreal. He is linked to organized crime and has already been convicted of murders in Toronto and Vancouver back in 2012. Because of his dangerous record, his escape raised major concerns for public safety.
The Bolo Program, which highlights Canada’s most wanted criminals, placed Alkhalil at the top of its list after the escape. They even offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest.
After a long investigation, police have now charged three men for helping Alkhalil escape. The suspects are:
Edward Ayoub, 48, from Ottawa
John Potvin, 49, also from Ottawa
Ryan van Gool, 46, from Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.
These men face charges of conspiracy to commit prison breach and prison breach.
According to police, video footage from the day of the escape played a key role in identifying the suspects.
Police say Ayoub and van Gool are now in custody. Potvin, however, is still on the run and wanted on a Canada-wide warrant. Authorities are urging the public to call police immediately if they see him.
The jail escape investigation also led police to discover new criminal activities involving van Gool and two other men.
In March 2024, police uncovered a murder conspiracy in Kamloops that was allegedly being planned by van Gool and two men from Surrey:
Bryce Telford, 28
Scott Telford, 61
All three have now been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and possession of weapons.
Police say that stopping this plot helped protect public safety in B.C.
Van Gool is also facing charges for a shooting in Maple Ridge in January 2024.
With these new charges, police confirmed that 17 charges in total have now been filed against five men, connected to both the jail escape and other serious crimes.
As of now, Rabih Alkhalil remains at large. Authorities warn that he is considered dangerous. The public is encouraged to report any information that might help bring him into custody.
The jail escape of Rabih Alkhalil was one of the most serious in recent Canadian history. The new charges show that police are closing in on those who helped him, and are working hard to prevent further crimes connected to this group.
But until Alkhalil himself is captured, the search continues.
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