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Mounties arrive on scene along Hwy. 19, just north of the Rutherford/Mostar Rd. intersection, on Wednesday, Nov. 12. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)
investigation continues

Missing Nanaimo man found dead alongside Island Hwy.

Nov 13, 2025 | 3:19 PM

NANAIMO — An investigation is underway following the discovery of a missing man’s body beside a busy portion of highway in Nanaimo.

RCMP officers closed the southbound lanes of Hwy. 19A, between Turner Rd. and Rutherford/Mostar Rd. intersections, starting just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, after the discovery of 23-year-old Mahadi Redwan in the bushes beside the highway.

Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien said officers were on scene collecting evidence and have made headway in their investigation.

“Based on the evidence obtained to date, this matter is considered a criminal investigation. Officers believe Mr. Redwan’s death occurred at that location, on the evening of Nov., 2, 2025, at around 8:15 pm.”

Mahadi Redwan’s body was found along Hwy. 19A in Nanaimo on Wednesday. Police believe he’d been there for around 10 days. (submitted photo)

O’Brien would not clarify the nature of the investigation or whether Redwan was the victim of a homicide, or a traffic-related incident.

“All we can say at this point is that the matter is considered a criminal investigation,” O’Brien said when specifically asked about the circumstances of the death by NanaimoNewsNOW.

Members of the RCMP’s Integrated Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) were called to the scene Wednesday evening, which indicates a potential traffic involvement.

Police are asking the public for any dash cam footage of the area around the suspected time of Redwan’s death.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345, quoting file number 20205-35331.

According to his missing persons report, Redwan was attempting to get a ride to Courtenay on Nov. 2.

He was reported missing after the ride he’d secured the following day went to his home to pick him up, only for him to not be there.

Redwan was spotted on security footage leaving Thrifty Foods at Longwood Station around 8 p.m. on the night of his death.

Mounties were on scene for around four hours on Wednesday. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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