Italian courts have approved the extradition of Dave “Pik” Turmel to Canada after his arrest in Rome almost a year ago, as reported by Radio-Canada. Turmel, suspected of leading the Blood Family Mafia (BFM) at the time of his apprehension, now has a 15-day window to challenge the ruling. His arrest in Italy in March of the previous year was a joint operation involving Italian authorities and the Quebec City police service (SPVQ).
Turmel had been a fugitive sought by the SPVQ since July 24, 2023, with Canada-wide arrest warrants issued against him. In 2024, he was designated as Canada’s most-wanted fugitive by the Bolo Program, which notifies the public about dangerous criminals. He is facing a range of criminal charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy, and assault with a weapon causing bodily harm, along with suspicions of involvement in various other crimes in Quebec.
Even if Turmel opts not to contest his extradition, his return to Canada may encounter delays. Quebec police officers will need to travel to Italy to bring him back to Canada, initiating the legal proceedings upon his arrival.
Criminal defense lawyer Steven Slimovitch explained that upon landing in Canada, Turmel will be re-arrested as he steps on Canadian soil, following the standard procedure for any accused Canadian individual. While Canada and Italy have an extradition agreement, Slimovitch cautioned that the process might not proceed swiftly since it necessitates a request from the Canadian government, which could involve political considerations, potentially prolonging the repatriation process.
Another individual, Roobens Denis, aged 31, was apprehended last year in Portugal by local authorities after being wanted by Quebec City police for seven months. Denis, believed to be Turmel’s right-hand man by law enforcement, was subsequently sentenced to 42 months in prison.