An individual suspected of aiding fugitive Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil in his escape from jail has been apprehended in Spain, as reported by British Columbia’s anti-gang police unit. John Potvin, a 49-year-old resident of Ottawa, was arrested along with two others for allegedly assisting Alkhalil in breaking out of the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam on July 21, 2022.
Alkhalil, hailing from Montreal, has a significant criminal history, including convictions for a 2012 Toronto murder and a Vancouver murder the same year. He remains a prominent figure on Canada’s most-wanted list following his escape. Potvin, facing charges of conspiracy to commit prison breach and actual prison breach in connection to Alkhalil’s escape, was evading authorities and was the subject of both a Canada-wide warrant and an Interpol Red Notice.
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) announced on Saturday that Potvin was detained in Spain on September 19 and efforts are underway to return him to Canada. Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha of the CFSEU remarked that the successful arrest in Spain underscores the effectiveness of international law enforcement collaborations.
During a recent press conference, Sangha mentioned that video evidence from the jailbreak aided in identifying the individuals who allegedly facilitated Alkhalil’s escape. In July 2022, two individuals disguised as contractors in a white Econoline van orchestrated Alkhalil’s breakout from the pretrial center as he awaited trial for murder. Subsequently, the Bolo Program elevated Alkhalil to the top of its list of 25 most-wanted fugitives in Canada.
Overall, the arrest of the alleged accomplice in Spain marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to bring those involved in Alkhalil’s escape to justice.