Italian police release more details on Dave ‘Pic’ Turmel arrest

Rome Police Headquarters released information on the arrest of alleged Blood Family Mafia leader Dave "Pic" Turmel. (Source: Rome Police Headquarters)

Italian police released information on the arrest of alleged Blood Family Mafia (BFM) leader Dave “Pic” Turmel and say he will be extradited to Canada shortly.

In a news release, Rome Police Headquarters said Turmel was arrested in a hospitality facility in the via Ceglie Messapico district Thursday after an alert was sent by international police co-operation service Interpol.

According to police, officers burst into Turmel’s vacation home around midnight. Taken by surprise, he immediately tried to barricade himself, only to give in shortly after and handing over a false passport as identification.

Police then seized drugs, several SIM cards and a ledger written in French and Arabic from his hideout.

The 28-year-old was wanted internationally for drug trafficking — namely especially cocaine and methamphetamine — conspiracy and assault with a weapon and had been on the run for nearly two years.

Turmel is said to have run the BFM from Portugal.

BFM has been involved in a bloody feud with the Hells Angels to assert territorial hegemony over the drug market. The gang resorted to violent methods to collect money, including kidnapping and torturing Hells Angels members and posting images online.

Back in December, he topped the Bolo program’s Top 25 list of Canada’s Most Wanted fugitives and a reward up to $250,000 was offered for information leading to his arrest.

Turmel is now in prison in Regina Coeli awaiting extradition.