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Dave Turmel, the alleged leader of a notorious Quebec-based street gang who was facing extradition to Canada, will remain detained in Italy for now.
Danièle Roy, Turmel’s lawyer, said his extradition is being appealed.
The development, first reported in the Journal de Québec, has been confirmed by Radio-Canada.
Turmel was named Canada’s most-wanted fugitive in 2024 by the Bolo Program, which alerts the public about dangerous criminals.
The street gang, known as Blood Family Mafia, was involved in brutal turf wars in Quebec during which victims have been tortured and have had their limbs amputated.
Turmel faces numerous criminal charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy and assault with a weapon causing bodily harm.
He is also suspected of being linked to numerous other crimes committed in Quebec.
He was apprehended in Rome in 2025 by Italian authorities in collaboration with the Quebec City police service. Italian courts authorized Turmel’s extradition to Canada in March 2026, nearly a year after his arrest.
Process could drag on, says lawyer
It is unclear when a decision will be handed down by the Italian justice system, but Roy says the judicial process will likely take a long time.
“What’s certain is that the process could be very long, and could even take years,” she told Radio-Canada over the phone.
“The proceedings are longer than in Quebec. They don’t have a Jordan decision, which means everything must be completed within 30 months, like we do,” she added. Turmel is being held in Regina Coeli, the largest prison in Rome.
