British ColumbiaJohn Potvin, an alleged accomplice that helped fugitive Rabih Alkhalil escape jail in 2022, has been arrested in Spain, according to B.C.’s police gang unit.John Potvin, 49, was charged with prison breach after allegedly helping Alkhalil escape jail in July 2022CBC News · Posted: Sep 20, 2025 6:25 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago John Potvin, who allegedly assisted in the escape of fugitive Rabih Alkhalil from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Surrey, B.C., is shown in this mug shot. Potvin has now been arrested in Spain, police say. (Ben Nelms/CBC)An alleged accomplice that helped fugitive Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil escape jail has been arrested in Spain, according to B.C.’s anti-gang police unit.John Potvin, 49, of Ottawa was one of three men charged earlier this month after allegedly helping Alkhalil escape from North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam on July 21, 2022.Alkhalil, originally from Montreal, has an extensive criminal record and was convicted in a 2012 Toronto murder, as well as a murder in Vancouver that same year, and remains a member of Canada’s most-wanted list after the escape.Potvin, who was charged with conspiracy to commit prison breach and prison breach in relation to Alkhalil’s escape, was at large and the subject of a Canada-wide warrant and an Interpol Red Notice.RCMP deputy commissioner Dwayne McDonald stands next to a wanted sign for fugitive Rabih Alkhalil in 2022. After his escape, Alkhalil remains on Canada’s most-wanted list. (Ben Nelms/CBC)On Saturday, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC), made up of members of every police department in the province, including the RCMP, said Potvin was arrested on Sept. 19 in Spain, and that the anti-gang unit is working to have him returned to Canada.”The successful apprehension of this individual in Spain is a testament to the strength of international law enforcement partnerships,” the CFSEU’s Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha said in a statement.WATCH | RCMP identify 3 men as alleged Alkhalil accomplices: 3 men charged for allegedly helping B.C. fugitive escape jailThe RCMP on Monday announced charges against three men who allegedly assisted B.C. fugitive Rabih (Robby) Alkhalil in escaping from a Port Coquitlam jail in 2022. Akhalil, 38, is originally from Montreal and has not been located since his escape. CORRECTION (Sept. 8, 2025): A previous version of this video stated that three men had been arrested in relation to Rabih Alkhalil’s escape from jail. In fact, two of them have been arrested and a third remained at large at the time of publication.In a news conference earlier this month, Sangha had said 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 [about] exactly who was on that video,” she said.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.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)
Alleged accomplice of B.C. fugitive Rabih Alkhalil arrested in Spain
