The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will hold a news conference on Monday regarding the escape of convicted murderer Rabih Alkhalil. Alkhalil, 38, walked out of the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, on July 21, 2022. He was serving a life sentence for the 2012 murder of Toronto mobster Johnny Raposo, who was killed on a busy patio on College Street.

Following his escape, Alkhalil became one of Canada’s Most Wanted criminals, appearing on the BOLO (Be On the Lookout) list. He was also convicted in absentia for conspiring to murder rivals Sandip Duhre and Sukh Dhak in 2012. Known as "Robby," Alkhalil is a leader of the Wolfpack Alliance, a network of crime groups involved in cocaine trafficking and connected through the internet. This alliance includes the Hells Angels.

Shane Dankoski, a former member of the rival United Nations Gang, expressed concern over Alkhalil's escape. "He’s extremely dangerous," Dankoski said. "Money is power, and he’s got a lot of that, money and power." He suggested that Alkhalil likely received assistance from within the jail to facilitate his escape. To date, no charges have been filed against anyone other than Alkhalil in connection with the incident.

Dankoski pointed out that Hells Angel Larry Amero was incarcerated at the same facility during Alkhalil's escape, yet no one attempted to break him out. Amero was convicted on August 29, 2022, of conspiracy to commit murder related to the Duhre and Dhak cases. "The Hells Angels couldn’t set up and execute for Larry," Dankoski noted, emphasizing the complexity and cost of orchestrating such an escape.

Alkhalil has a lengthy criminal history, including two convictions for first-degree murder. He escaped alongside two accomplices, all of whom were disguised as contractors and drove away in a white Econoline van. Reports indicate that someone tampered with the jail's camera system, leading police to release incorrect images during the initial search for Alkhalil.

As of now, British Columbia authorities have not announced any reviews of security protocols or staff discipline related to the escape. A freedom of information request regarding the incident and any subsequent safety measures was denied. In addition to his previous convictions, Alkhalil now faces charges for forcible prison break and escaping lawful custody.

The murder of Johnny Raposo stemmed from a dispute over a significant cocaine shipment from Mexico. Alkhalil, who previously operated a high-end women’s clothing store in Old Montreal, had already been convicted of running a major cocaine importation network in Quebec.

The RCMP has indicated that investigators are exploring the possibility that Alkhalil is attempting to flee using his extensive connections across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. A Canada-wide arrest warrant and an Interpol Red Notice are being prepared in response to his escape.

Alkhalil arrived in Canada as a child in 1990 with his family from Saudi Arabia, seeking refugee protection. Canadian authorities later determined that the family was stateless. Alkhalil's father lost his home during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict and had fled to a refugee camp in Lebanon before resettling in Saudi Arabia. The family eventually settled in Surrey, B.C., with some members later moving to Ottawa.