After 610 days on the run, Dave “Pic” Turmel’s European vacation has come to an end.
Canada’s most wanted criminal, Dave “Pic” Turmel, was finally arrested by Italian authorities on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Rome. The alleged leader of the Blood Family Mafia (BFM), which has been involved in a violent war for control of Quebec’s drug trafficking scene, had been on the run for more than 20 months.
According to information from Quebecor’s Bureau of Investigation, later confirmed by various other media outlets, the 28-year-old fugitive was in an apartment in the Italian capital when he was apprehended. Turmel had been the subject of Canada-wide arrest warrants since July 24, 2023. He was wanted on numerous criminal charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy, armed assault, and alleged connections to various crimes committed throughout the province.
The investigation targeting his organization, the Blood Family Mafia, began in May 2022 under Project Malsain, led by the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ). The goal was to dismantle a cocaine and methamphetamine distribution network active in the Quebec City and Lévis regions.
In December 2024, Dave Turmel and All Boivin, who is believed to be close to the BFM leader, topped the list of Canada’s 25 most wanted fugitives.
Both men were wanted for drug traficking.BOLO
A maximum reward of $250,000 was offered for information leading to their arrests. However, Boivin, 35, remains at large. As of now, the SPVQ has not provided further details regarding Turmel’s arrest.
It’s worth noting that the BFM gang has been embroiled in a bloody conflict with the Hells Angels over control of the drug trade in the Capitale-Nationale, Beauce, and eastern parts of the province since 2022. This ongoing turf war has led to a significant increase in organized crime-related violence throughout these areas.
Love this? Check out our MTL Blog noticeboard for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!
AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog’s Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
