Canada’s Most Wanted Fugitive, Blood Family Mafia Gang Leader Dave ‘Pik’ Turmel Arrested in Italy

The 28-year-old, who had been on the run for over a year, is believed to be the leader of the Blood Family Mafia (BFM).

The notorious street gang is involved in brutal turf wars with the Hells Angels in Quebec during which victims have been tortured and have had their limbs amputated.

In a news release issued Friday in response to CBC News inquiries, Rome District Police announced they arrested the head of “a notorious criminal organization.” Turmel was not named in the release, but in a call with CBC News, police confirmed the individual arrested was indeed Turmel.

Who is Dave Turmel?  

Dave ‘Pik’ Turmel, right, was the number 1 suspect of the Bolo Program for Canada. Italian police said Turmel specialized in the sale of narcotics of various kinds, including cocaine and methamphetamine and was taken “by surprise in his hideout” by the officers of Rome’s Casilino district.

He reportedly handed over a fake passport as identification and police found and confiscated drugs, several SIM-cards and an agenda. They said he is now in jail at Regina Coeli awaiting extradition.

His presence was initially signalled by an alert sent to police by the Interpol International Police Cooperation Service, according to Italian police. According to Radio-Canada sources, Quebec police officers received a tip about Turmel in recent days, which helped accelerate the investigation to locate him on the run in Italy. Sources say the informant was motivated by the reward of up to $250,000 being offered for any information leading to Turmel’s arrest. 

Wanted Since 2023

In December, Turmel was named the new number 1 suspect of the Bolo Program, a project operated by a Canadian charity to alert the public about dangerous criminals.

He had been wanted since July 24, 2023 by Quebec City police for several charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy and armed assault.

Last year, Roobens Denis, 31, considered by police to be Turmel’s right-hand man, was arrested in Portugal.

The second most wanted fugitive in Canada is All Boivin, who is believed to be Turmel’s sidekick. Police say Boivin is also involved in the violent drug-related turf wars that have erupted in Quebec.

Involved in a bloody war with the Hells Angels for the past year-and-a-half, BFM is said to have refused to buy drugs from the Hells Angels or pay them for operating on their territories. They sourced them from Montreal-area gangs instead.

The BFM traditionally paid a 10% tax to the Hells Angels, but in 2023 the group came into conflict with the Hells Angels after it ceased paying the tax.