Global News has learned that Rabih ‘Robby’ Alkhalil has been arrested in Qatar after escaping from jail in B.C. three years ago.
In 2022, Alkhalil broke out of the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam. Police believe he was assisted by two men posing as contractors.
However, RCMP said at a press conference on Monday that they have not been able to confirm Alkhalil was taken into custody in Qatar.
They did confirm that three men are now facing charges for helping Alkhalil break out of prison.
Edward Paul Ayoub, 48, of Ottawa, John Brian Potvin, 49, of Ottawa and Ryan Edward Van Gool, 46, of Harrison Hot Springs, have each been charged with prison breach and conspiracy to commit a prison breach.
While police were investigating the prison break, they uncovered some additional crimes.
Van Gool was later charged, along with two other men, Bryce Telford, 28, and Scott Telford, 61, both of Surrey, with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a loaded restricted firearm and possession of a loaded prohibited firearm for allegedly conspiring to murder a person in Kamloops.
Van Gool has also been charged with discharging a firearm with intent and possession of a loaded, prohibited or restricted firearm in relation to an incident that took place in Maple Ridge in January 2024.
Van Gool and the two Telfords were arrested on Sept. 5 and remain in custody.
Ayoub was already in custody for murder in another province and is now facing these new charges.
Potvin remains at large and is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.
A month after the escape, Alkhalil was found guilty in absentia of first-degree murder in connection with a deadly gang shooting at the Vancouver Wall Centre in 2012.
In 2023, a $100,000 reward was offered for any information leading to Alkhalil’s arrest.
Extradition from Qatar, however, may be difficult.
“Qatar is fugitive heaven,” immigration lawyer Richard Kurland told Global News.
“Canada has no extradition treaty with Qatar. The alternative is diplomatic, multi-year chats or an arrangement, which is ‘let’s make a deal. We have someone you want, you have someone we want,’ and they trade.”
Sources tell Global News that the RCMP and CFSEU-BC are likely going to Qatar to arrange for Alkhalil’s return.