Canada’s most wanted fugitive arrested in Spain

Canada’s most wanted fugitive, who has been on the run from Quebec police for more than three years, has been arrested in Europe.

Quebec provincial police said they confirmed with authorities in Spain that officers apprehend All Boivin, originally from the province’s Saguenay region, in Marbella, a city on the Spanish southern coast, on Friday.

“The arrest of All Boivin marks an important milestone for public safety in Quebec and in the fight against organized crime,” said Johanne Beausoleil, director general of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), in a statement.

“It is the result of sustained, rigorous investigative work carried out over a long period by teams from the Sûreté du Québec, in close collaboration with several police partners in Quebec, across Canada and internationally.”

Boivin, 36, is wanted for several alleged crimes, such as drug trafficking, organized crime, aggravated assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, breaking and entering, weapons trafficking, and has ties to conflicts between motorcycle gangs in Quebec in 2022.

“This conflict has been marked by sordid crimes such as murder and the use of the most barbaric methods of intimidation, including torture sessions and limb amputations, some of which have been broadcast on social media networks,” according to the Bolo website.

He has been on the run since Feb. 15, 2023. He was wanted by the SQ, which has also accused him of gangsterism, aggravated assault and arms trafficking.

“Congratulations to the officers of the Sûreté du Québec, the RCMP, and Interpol for their work,” Quebec’s Minister of Domestic Security, Ian Lafrenière, wrote in a post on X on Friday.

‘You could run, but you can’t hide’

Boivin had become the most wanted fugitive in Canada after the arrest of Bryan Fuentes Gramajo, who was at the top of Bolo list until his capture by Montreal police in March.

Police say Boivin is considered armed and dangerous. A reward of up to $100,000 was being offered for information leading to his arrest until Nov. 18.

Pietro Poletti, a retired Montreal police detective, said he believes Boivin’s arrest sends a message to the criminal underworld.

“Like the old saying goes, you know, you could run, but you can’t hide,” Poletti said in an interview.

Police say Boivin is a close associate of Dave “Pik” Turmel, the alleged leader of the Blood Family Mafia. He was arrested in Italy in 2025 and is awaiting extradition. Poletti said that, while both men are dangerous, they were “low-end” thugs who tend to be very “flashy.”

“If it was traditional organized crime, it would be a bit different. We’ve seen in the past people involved with the Cosa Nostra or the traditional ‘Ndrangheta, who were sought for 20 years, 10 years, you know. They wouldn’t go to a place like Marbella, a high touristy area. They stay very low profile,” Poletti said.

The organized crime expert says Friday’s arrest is a big victory for police.

Since Boivin has been on the run, there has been a “significant rise” of violent incidents in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, as well as in the Côte-Nord and Québec regions, according to a 2025 decision from Quebec Court Justice Richard P. Daoust.

“Between February 15, 2023 and the present day (March 11, 2025), 95 operational cases relating to violence and the ongoing armed conflict have been recorded in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean. In several of these cases, arrests have been made and charges laid,” the decision reads.

“This follows a conflict linked to drug trafficking and territorial control. This conflict involves the Hells Angels (HA) and various figures associated with street gangs (GDR), including the organisation led by All Boivin and Dave Turmel, alias ‘Le Pic’ (Blood Family Mafia (BFM)).”

The SQ thanked its policing partners for their help in locating Boivin, including the RCMP, Interpol, and the Spanish police.

“The Sûreté du Québec remains fully committed to the fight against organised crime and the violence it engenders. Criminal groups evolve, move around and attempt to exploit borders to evade justice. Our response, too, must be coordinated, agile and determined,” the SQ said.