Arrest of Al Bouafan in Spain after years of being pursued as one of the most wanted in Canada

Montreal —
Al Bouafan was arrested in Spain, after more than three years on the run, in a development that ends one of the most prominent security pursuit cases related to Canadian fugitives abroad.

Bouafan, 36 years old, had been wanted since February 2023, before becoming one of the most wanted fugitives in Canada, with his name topping the "Bolo" program's nationwide wanted list in December 2024.

The "Bolo" program is a national platform launched to expand the dissemination of priority wanted notices issued by Canadian police agencies, by highlighting prominent fugitives and inviting the public to provide information that helps in their arrest.

Bouafan's arrest came months after the arrest of another Quebec fugitive, Dave Turmel, in Italy, who had also topped the wanted list, and is still detained there while undergoing legal proceedings related to his extradition to Canada.

The full details of Bouafan's arrest in Spain, or the potential timeline for his extradition procedures, have not yet been announced, but his arrest represents an important development for Canadian authorities in the pursuit of fugitives abroad.

The upcoming phase is expected to clarify the legal steps related to his return to Canada, as the process will be subject to extradition procedures and coordination between Spanish and Canadian authorities.