RCMP officials will hold a press briefing this afternoon to provide an update on Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil, a fugitive who escaped from a British Columbia jail in 2022 and has evaded capture since. Alkhalil, a 38-year-old individual originally from Montreal, managed to flee from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, B.C., while facing murder charges on July 21, 2022. With a criminal history including convictions for a 2012 Toronto murder and another murder in Vancouver the same year, Alkhalil was listed as one of Canada’s most wanted criminals post-escape. Authorities have linked him to gang activities and drug trafficking, leading to an Interpol red notice being issued against him.
Before the scheduled news conference, CBC News did not receive confirmation from RCMP regarding Alkhalil’s arrest status. The briefing was slated for 1 p.m. PT on Monday. In a previous incident in July 2022, Alkhalil was aided in his escape by two individuals posing as construction workers in a white Econoline van. Subsequently, the Bolo Program, known as “be on the lookout,” elevated Alkhalil to the top spot on its list of 25 most sought-after fugitives in Canada. As of the latest update, the program was offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any information leading to Alkhalil’s apprehension. The Bolo Program focuses on amplifying alerts about wanted criminals and is the primary initiative of a charitable organization founded by the CEO of GardaWorld Security Corporation.