Canadian fugitive arrested while at the gym in Colombia after 3 years on the run

Evening Standard Published Jul 10, 2026 Reviewed Jul 11, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

Arif Jhuman was arrested in Medellín by Colombian police.

Policía Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, tweet

Arif Jhuman had been unlawfully at large since January 24, 2023.

Ontario Provincial Police, statement

Arif Jhuman is serving a sentence of nine years and 11 months for multiple drug-related offences.

9 years · sentence duration11 months · sentence duration Ontario Provincial Police, statement

Arif Jhuman was named in a U.S. Department of Justice indictment in 2025 alleging his involvement in an international firearms trafficking conspiracy.

U.S. Department of Justice, indictment

Prosecutors in Florida accused Arif Jhuman and four other suspects, including two fellow Canadians, of trafficking and conspiring to traffic more than 100 firearms from Florida to Canada between 2023 and 2024.

more than 100 firearms · firearms trafficked Florida prosecutors, statement

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 29 firearms were recovered at crime scenes across Canada, including in homicide investigations.

29 firearms · firearms recovered U.S. Department of Justice, statement

Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez wrote that Arif Jhuman, also known as “Gillani,” a Canadian citizen wanted by U.S. authorities for his alleged involvement in an international drug and weapons trafficking network, was arrested in Medellín.

Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez, tweet

Fico Gutiérrez posted that Arif Jhuman, alias 'Gillani', a Canadian citizen, was captured in Medellín in a joint operation coordinated with Interpol and international agencies.

Fico Gutiérrez, tweet

Policía Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá tweeted that Arif Jhuman, alias 'Gillani', was detained in Medellín and was made available to the competent authority to advance his extradition process.

Policía Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, tweet

The OPP said Arif Jhuman was located and arrested in Medellín by Colombian police.

Ontario Provincial Police say a federal offender who had been unlawfully at large since January 2023 has been arrested in Colombia.

The OPP said Arif Jhuman was located and arrested in Medellín by Colombian police.

Police say Jhuman had been unlawfully at large since Jan. 24, 2023.

According to authorities, Jhuman is serving a sentence of nine years and 11 months for multiple drug-related offences, including possession of Schedule I or II substances for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking in a Schedule I or II substance, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Jhuman was named in a U.S. Department of Justice indictment in 2025 alleging his involvement in an international firearms trafficking conspiracy. Prosecutors in Florida accused him and four other suspects, including two fellow Canadians, of trafficking and conspiring to traffic more than 100 firearms from Florida to Canada between 2023 and 2024.

According to the DOJ, 29 of those firearms were later recovered at crime scenes across Canada, including in homicide investigations.

Alias "Gillani", requerido por notificación de INTERPOL por narcotráfico y tráfico ilegal de armas, fue retenido en Medellín y quedó a disposición de la autoridad competente para avanzar en su proceso de extradición. pic.twitter.com/PXt8B4jWrM

In a video posted to social media by Medellin Mayor Federico Gutiérrez and Medellin police, heavily armed police are seen taking Jhuman into custody at a gym.

En una operación conjunta entre la Dirección de Antinarcóticos de la Policía Nacional, en coordinación con Interpol y agencias internacionales fue capturado en Medellín Arif Jhuman, alias "Gillani", ciudadano canadiense requerido por… pic.twitter.com/ohjweapEch

“Medellín is not a refuge for criminals. In a joint operation by the National Police’s Directorate of Anti-Narcotics, coordinated with Interpol and international agencies, Arif Jhuman, also known as “Gillani,” a Canadian citizen wanted by U.S. authorities for his alleged involvement in an international drug and weapons trafficking network, was arrested in Medellín,” Gutiérrez wrote.

“He allegedly entered Colombia using false documents and was facing charges related to an alleged conspiracy to traffic more than 100 firearms between the United States and Canada.”

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