Omid Tahvili

Early criminal enterprises in Canada

Omid Tahvili arrived in Canada from Iran in 1994 and soon became involved in criminal activities. His early operations included drug trafficking. In November 2000, he was arrested in a joint Vancouver Police and RCMP operation for possession of three kilograms of cocaine alongside his brother-in-law. Tahvili was found not guilty on those charges. From 1999 to 2002, he ran a fraudulent telemarketing business that targeted elderly victims in the United States. This scheme stole approximately three million US dollars from hundreds of people. A federal arrest warrant for Tahvili was issued on 30 January 2003 from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. By 2003, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had identified Tahvili as the head of one of the main criminal organizations operating within an Iranian expatriate community in Canada, with dozens of individuals working under him. The RCMP investigation into his activities was part of a broader focus on organized crime within immigrant communities in the Greater Vancouver area.

Extradition proceedings and flight risk

Following the U.S. arrest warrant, Tahvili was arrested in British Columbia on an extradition warrant. The British Columbia Supreme Court ordered his extradition to the United States on 4 May 2007 to face charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, telemarketing fraud, and aiding and abetting. For his defence, Tahvili retained Canadian extradition lawyer Amandeep Singh, known for representing high-profile international clients such as fugitive banker Rakesh Saxena. Tahvili appealed the extradition order to the British Columbia Court of Appeal and was awaiting the outcome of that appeal while being held in custody. His status as a flight risk was demonstrated by his subsequent actions while detained at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam. Authorities were aware of his claims of connections to various gangs, including the Triads, the Hells Angels, and the multi-ethnic UN gang, which indicated a broad support structure that could facilitate an escape. The extradition case highlighted the legal complexities of prosecuting individuals with dual citizenship and international criminal ties.

The 2005 kidnapping and sexual assault

The crimes that would lead to Tahvili's most significant Canadian conviction originated in 2005 when 300,000 Canadian dollars of his organization's drug money went missing from a courier service's warehouse in Richmond, British Columbia. Tahvili suspected a courier employee of the theft and that the individual had fled to Vietnam. In retaliation, Tahvili organized the kidnapping of the employee's brother-in-law. The victim was held against his will, sexually assaulted, and interrogated over several hours before being released. Tahvili was arrested soon after this incident. He was subsequently convicted on charges of kidnapping, unlawful confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats, and assault causing bodily harm. At the time of his escape in late 2007, he was being held awaiting his sentencing hearing, where the Crown was seeking a prison term of between 10 and 15 years. This violent episode was prosecuted in the British Columbia Supreme Court and illustrated Tahvili's operational methods, which included using torture and sexual violence for interrogation and retaliation within his criminal operations.

The 2007 prison escape and investigation

In November 2007, Omid Tahvili escaped from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre, becoming the first inmate to escape from the facility. The escape was facilitated by Corrections Officer Edwin Ticne, whom Tahvili had bribed. Reports from the Ming Pao Daily News indicated a one million dollar reward had been offered for assistance in the breakout. Closed-circuit television footage captured Tahvili leaving the facility wearing a janitor's uniform, being led by Ticne through a series of locked doors, and walking out the front door. To delay discovery, Tahvili had placed bricks under a blanket on his cell bunk to simulate a sleeping figure. His disappearance was not discovered for nearly 24 hours. The RCMP arrested Edwin Ticne shortly after the escape and charged him with aiding a prisoner's escape. RCMP Corporal Brenda Gresiuk confirmed evidence had been forwarded to the Crown to support the charge. Ticne was later released on bail with a 100,000 dollar surety and conditions set by Justice Peter Leask that included no contact with Tahvili or his associates, with a trial date set for the following June.

Sentencing of accomplices and Tahvili in absentia

The legal consequences for those involved in the escape unfolded over the following year. Edwin Ticne was convicted for his role in facilitating Tahvili's escape. On 8 August 2008, Ticne was sentenced to three years and three months in prison. Following the escape, the Canadian justice system proceeded against Tahvili despite his absence. He was sentenced in absentia to an 11-year prison term for the kidnapping and assault convictions. This sentence fell within the range of 10 to 15 years that the Crown had indicated it would seek. The separate U.S. extradition order for fraud charges remained in effect, creating a dual legal threat from two countries. The successful prosecution of the corrections officer highlighted a breach in prison security but did not result in information leading to Tahvili's recapture. The in absentia sentencing is a legal mechanism used when a defendant flees, allowing the court to finalize a case and impose a sentence that takes effect upon apprehension.

Criminal network and international profile

Omid Tahvili's criminal organization was noted for its extensive reach and connections. The RCMP identified his group as a major entity with operations spanning from British Columbia to Ontario, where drug money was sent by courier from Toronto to Vancouver. His network extended beyond Canada, with established links throughout Europe and the Middle East. During his trial, evidence revealed that Tahvili openly discussed his affiliations with several powerful gangs, leveraging these connections for his operations. His high profile in the criminal underworld and his status as a fugitive led Forbes.com, after consulting global law enforcement, to list him as one of the world's ten most wanted fugitives in April 2008. This listing placed him among internationally notorious figures sought for crimes ranging from terrorism to drug trafficking. The Forbes list, which also included figures like Joaquín Guzmán of the Sinaloa Cartel, was compiled from sources including the FBI, Interpol, and national most-wanted lists. Tahvili's inclusion signaled that law enforcement considered his capture a global priority.

• Identified by police as heading one of the main criminal organizations in an Iranian expatriate community in Canada.
• Reported connections to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang.
• Claimed affiliations with Asian crime syndicates, specifically the Triads.
• Had links to the UN gang, a multi-ethnic criminal organization based in British Columbia.
• Operated a drug trafficking network that moved significant sums of cash across provinces.
• Maintained a fraudulent telemarketing operation that stole US$3 million from elderly American victims.
• Described by authorities as a top-level criminal who engaged in torture.
• His organization was involved in money laundering activities to process illicit profits.

Physical description and fugitive status

As of the latest available information, Omid Tahvili remains an international fugitive. His escape in 2007 and subsequent disappearance have made him one of Canada's most notorious wanted criminals. At the time of his escape, he was described as a 37-year-old Persian man with black hair and brown eyes. He has numerous tattoos, which include a prominent Celtic cross across his upper back and a child's face on each of his upper arms. These distinctive markings are key identifiers for law enforcement. Despite his conviction and sentencing in absentia, and the completion of the prison term for the guard who aided him, Tahvili has successfully evaded capture for over a decade and a half. The charges for which he was ordered extradited to the United States remain outstanding. His continued freedom shows the challenges law enforcement faces in apprehending well-connected organized crime figures who can leverage international networks and resources to avoid justice. Interpol has issued a Red Notice for Tahvili, requesting member countries to locate and provisionally arrest him pending extradition.

Media coverage and public interest

The case of Omid Tahvili generated significant media coverage, particularly focusing on the audacity of his escape from a high-security institution. The Ming Pao Daily News, a Cantonese-language newspaper in Vancouver, provided early detailed reports on the escape method and the alleged one million dollar reward. National Canadian news outlets reported extensively on the arrest of the corrections officer and the subsequent court proceedings. The inclusion of Tahvili on the Forbes list of the world's ten most wanted fugitives in April 2008 propelled his story onto an international stage, generating articles in publications like Diplomat Magazine which analyzed global fugitives. These reports often highlighted the intersection of vanity, greed, and violence in his criminal portrait. The longevity of his fugitive status, spanning over 17 years since his escape, continues to make the case a subject of periodic public and media interest. His case is often referenced in discussions about prison security failures, the persistence of organized crime networks in Canada, and the effectiveness of international police cooperation.

Questions about Omid Tahvili

Who is Omid Tahvili?

Omid Tahvili is an Iranian-Canadian convicted criminal and organized crime kingpin. Born in Kermanshah, Iran in 1970, he moved to Canada in 1994 and built a criminal network involved in drug trafficking and large-scale telemarketing fraud. He gained international notoriety for escaping from a British Columbia maximum-security pretrial centre in 2007 and was later listed by Forbes as one of the world's ten most wanted fugitives. He remains a fugitive from Canadian and American justice, with connections to crime groups in Europe and the Middle East.

How did Omid Tahvili escape from prison?

Tahvili escaped from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, in November 2007. He bribed Corrections Officer Edwin Ticne, who helped him change into a janitor's uniform and led him through a series of locked doors. Closed-circuit television footage showed Tahvili walking out the front door of the facility. Reports indicated a one million dollar reward had been offered for the escape, and Tahvili placed bricks under his blanket to mimic a sleeping body. His disappearance went unnoticed for almost 24 hours.

What happened to the prison guard who helped him escape?

Corrections Officer Edwin Ticne was arrested and charged with aiding Tahvili's escape. He was granted bail with a 100,000 dollar surety and conditions set by Justice Peter Leask that included no contact with Tahvili or his associates. Ticne was later convicted and, on 8 August 2008, sentenced to three years and three months in prison for his role in the escape. His release on bail and subsequent sentencing were widely reported in Canadian media.

Is Omid Tahvili still wanted by police?

Yes, Omid Tahvili remains an active international fugitive sought by both Canadian and American authorities. He has been at large since his escape in November 2007. Canadian authorities consider him a flight risk with connections throughout Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. His 11-year Canadian sentence was imposed in absentia, and the U.S. extradition charges for fraud are still pending. Interpol has issued a Red Notice for his arrest.

What crimes is Omid Tahvili convicted of?

Omid Tahvili was convicted in absentia in Canada for kidnapping, unlawful confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats, and assault causing bodily harm, receiving an 11 year sentence. These convictions stem from a 2005 incident where he kidnapped and sexually assaulted the brother-in-law of a courier he suspected of stealing Can$300,000 of his organization's drug money. He also faces extradition to the United States on federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, telemarketing fraud and aiding and abetting. Those U.S. charges relate to a fraudulent telemarketing business he ran from 1999 to 2002 that stole approximately US$3 million from hundreds of victims.

Why was Omid Tahvili on the Forbes most wanted list?

Omid Tahvili was listed as one of the world's ten most wanted fugitives by Forbes.com in April 2008. This listing followed consultation with global law enforcement agencies. It was due to his status as a high profile international fugitive wanted in Canada and the United States. Key factors included his role as a kingpin of an organized crime group, his 2007 escape from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in British Columbia, and his convictions for violent crimes and a multimillion dollar fraud scheme.

Sources and further reading

• Omid Tahvili (Wikipedia)
• Crime boss may have bribed his way to escape (theglobeandmail.com)
• Prison guard gets bail following escape of alleged gangster (cbc.ca)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.