For over two years, he vanished – a ghost in the vibrant landscape of Central America. Jesse Michael Valentino Bou-Saleh, 35, a man Canadian authorities suspect is a major player in a British Columbia drug and weapons syndicate, has finally been apprehended in Costa Rica.
The arrest, carried out on January 22nd by Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) in collaboration with Interpol, concludes a months-long, meticulous pursuit. Bou-Saleh had successfully concealed himself within a quiet coastal community, living with his wife and children.
Investigators found the family had seamlessly integrated into local life, avoiding any suspicion despite being wanted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A search of their residence revealed a disturbing cache: cash, six firearms, bulletproof vests, and detailed records of drug transactions.
Notably, no narcotics were found during the search, suggesting a sophisticated operation focused on distribution rather than storage at that location. Authorities are now focusing their attention on Bou-Saleh’s wife, Katarina, who publicly offered childcare services and sold children’s clothes online.
Bou-Saleh is believed to be at the very top of criminal activity in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. RCMP investigations linked him to a massive 2023 bust – the largest in the region’s history.
That single operation seized nearly 20 kilograms of a deadly combination of fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine, alongside $58,000 in cash, an arsenal of 45 firearms, bulletproof equipment, and tools used for manufacturing illicit drugs.
Following raids on his network in Vernon, British Columbia, five arrests were made in March 2023. Bou-Saleh, however, managed to evade capture, fleeing with his family and eventually resurfacing in Costa Rica. Formal charges were filed in February 2025.
Bou-Saleh’s name also surfaced in connection with Nabil Mahmoud Abdel-Kader, another alleged drug trafficker who became infamous for a controversial legal outcome. Abdel-Kader was the subject of a case that raised serious questions about judicial decisions.
Despite the discovery of $200,000 worth of methamphetamine and cocaine hidden in his Jeep, a judge appointed by Justin Trudeau, Palbinder Kaur Shergill, dismissed the charges against Abdel-Kader, citing a violation of his rights during the search.
The case stemmed from a 2020 hit-and-run incident where a cyclist was assaulted by individuals linked to Abdel-Kader. Video evidence clearly identified his vehicle, yet the judge ruled the search unlawful. One RCMP source later described Abdel-Kader as “untouchable” and a “very bad dude.”
The apprehension of Bou-Saleh effectively dismantles a sprawling, international drug operation with connections stretching from Latin America directly back to Canada. His network’s reach was extensive and deeply embedded.
Bou-Saleh now awaits extradition to Canada, remaining in custody as the legal process unfolds. Costa Rica has increasingly become a haven for fugitives, particularly those fleeing justice in Canada and the United States.
