3 men arrested for allegedly helping B.C. fugitive Rabih Alkhalil escape jail: RCMP
Akshay Kulkarni | CBC News | Posted: September 8, 2025 1:13 PM | Last Updated: Just now
Alkhalil's escape from jail in 2022 was aided by accomplices who posed as contractors
Image | Tammy Lobb Sarbjit Sangha
Caption: RCMP spokespersons Sgt. Tammy Lobb and Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha are seen announcing that charges have been laid against three men who allegedly assisted in the escape of fugitive Rabih Alkhalil on Monday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
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RCMP have announced the arrests of three men who allegedly aided Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil in escaping from a B.C. jail in 2022. He's been on the loose ever since.
The 38-year-old has an extensive criminal record and was convicted in
a 2012 Toronto murder, as well as a murder in Vancouver that same year, and was a member of
Canada's most wanted list after the escape.
Alkhalil, originally from Montreal, was being held in the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on murder charges
when he escaped on July 21, 2022.
Police said Monday that three men have been charged for their roles in Alkhalil's escape. They did not confirm whether Alkhalil himself had been arrested.
Image | BOLO TOP 25
Caption: B.C. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald stands next to a wanted sign for fugitive Rabih Alkhalil in October 2022. Police provided an update on Alkhalil on Monday, saying that three of his alleged accomplices have been charged. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Edward Ayoub, 48, and John Potvin, 49 — both originally from Ottawa — and Ryan van Gool, 46, from Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., have been charged with conspiracy to commit prison breach and prison breach.
RCMP Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha said on Monday that video footage released from the prison break helped officers identify the men who allegedly aided Alkhalil's escape.
"As this investigation is in court, I won't be able to go into details exactly who was on that video," she said.
Image | RABIH ALKHALIL ACCOMPLICES
Caption: Police had released this video footage showing Rabih Alkhalil's alleged accomplices — who were dressed as contractors — at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in July 2022. (Bolo Program)
In July 2022, two men posing as contractors driving a white Econoline van
helped Alkhalil break out of the pretrial centre while he was awaiting a murder trial.
Later that same year, the
Bolo Program — which stands for "be on the lookout" — moved Alkhalil to the
top of its list of 25 most wanted fugitives in Canada.
Image | Rabih Alkhalil escape van
Caption: Port Coquitlam RCMP say Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil escaped the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in a white Econoline van with two other people. (Port Coquitlam RCMP)
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As of Monday, the program's website stated it was offering up to $50,000 for information that could lead to his arrest.
Bolo works to amplify notices about wanted criminals and is the main activity of a charitable organization started by the founder and CEO of GardaWorld Security Corporation.
Image | Rabih Alkhalil in jumpsuit
Caption: Police say Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil was last seen wearing a black jumpsuit and a high visibility vest. He is seen here during his escape. (Port Coquitlam RCMP)
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Murder plot foiled, police say
Police also announced further charges in relation to alleged murder plots and shootings around B.C. that saw the involvement of van Gool and two other men, who were not involved in the jail escape.
"In March of 2024, while conducting the Alkhalil investigation, police uncovered information that has now led to additional charges against Ryan van Gool and two men for allegedly conspiring to murder an individual in Kamloops," said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Tammy Lobb on Monday.
Lobb said that van Gool, Bryce Telford, 28, and Scott Telford, 61, both originally from Surrey, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and weapon possession.
Image | Rabih Alkhalil
Caption: Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil was allegedly aided in his escape from North Fraser Pretrial Centre by two accomplices posing as contractors. In total, three alleged accomplices have been arrested and charged. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
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"Our investigators uncovered a further murder conspiracy that was about to occur that they prevented, preserving public safety in one of our communities here in our province," Lobb said. "So they need to be applauded for that today."
The spokesperson further said that van Gool has been charged in relation to a shooting in Maple Ridge in January 2024.
In total, including the charges related to the jail escape, police said 17 charges had been filed against five men on Monday.
Image | John Potvin
Caption: The mugshot of John Potvin, who allegedly assisted in the escape of fugitive Rabih Alkhalil, is seen on Monday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
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