A high-security Quebec detention facility is facing serious questions after convicted killer Ziad Arradi escaped custody Saturday night—his second successful prison break in just over a decade.
Arradi, 53, serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, slipped away from the Regional Reception Centre in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, approximately 40 kilometers north of Montreal. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) confirmed the escape occurred around 9:30 PM when staff discovered him missing during a routine count.
“This represents a significant security breach that demands immediate investigation,” said Quebec Public Safety Minister François Bonnardel in a statement Sunday morning. “The public’s safety is our primary concern.”
What makes this escape particularly alarming is Arradi’s history. In 2013, he and another inmate orchestrated a daring helicopter escape from the Saint-Jérôme detention centre, when accomplices hijacked a tour helicopter and forced the pilot to land in the prison yard. Both escapees were recaptured within hours, but the incident prompted nationwide prison security reforms.
Law enforcement has established a perimeter around the facility, with the Sûreté du Québec deploying tactical units, K-9 teams, and helicopter surveillance. Authorities describe Arradi as 5’7″, 180 pounds, with brown eyes and a distinctive scar across his right cheek.
“Escapes from maximum-security facilities are exceedingly rare in Canada, with just three successful attempts in the past five years,” noted Catherine Latimer, executive director of the John Howard Society. “The fact that this is Arradi’s second escape suggests serious procedural failures.”
The CSC has initiated a full investigation into how Arradi managed to breach multiple security layers, including surveillance systems that were upgraded following his previous escape. Prison spokesperson Marc Lefebvre acknowledged the gravity of the situation: “We are reviewing all security protocols and will implement immediate changes to prevent similar incidents.”
Arradi was convicted in 2007 for the execution-style murder of a Montreal businessman linked to organized crime. Court documents revealed his connections to criminal networks that may be aiding his current escape.
Residents in surrounding communities have been warned not to approach Arradi if spotted, as he is considered dangerous. Anyone with information is urged to contact the SQ’s dedicated tip line immediately.
As the manhunt intensifies, this escape raises troubling questions about Canada’s prison security systems and whether lessons from previous breaches have been adequately implemented—or if the system remains vulnerable to inmates determined to find their way out.
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