Carmine Verduci (; May 12, 1959 – April 24, 2014) was an Italian-Canadian mobster from Oppido Mamertina,

Calabria , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

, based in Woodbridge, Ontario linked to the

Greater Toronto Area The Greater Toronto Area, commonly referred to as the GTA, includes the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York. In total, the region contains 25 urban, suburban, and rural municipalities. The Greater T ...

'Ndrangheta The 'Ndrangheta (, , ) is a prominent Italian Mafia-type organized crime syndicate and secret society, criminal society based in the peninsular and mountainous region of Calabria and dating back to the late 18th century. It is considered one of ...

group called the Siderno Group. He also had a seat on the

Camera di Controllo The ''Camera di Controllo'' (Board of Control), is a collegial body of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria. It is also known as ''La Provincia'' (the Province) or ''Camera di Compensazione'' (compensation board). It is composed o ...

in Canada.

Criminal activities

Verduci was considered to be the

's transatlantic messenger, having "the task of travelling between Italy and Canada, acting as a carrier of news between the Italian group and the Canadians," according to police reports. On February 12, 2008, Italian authorities noticed Verduci in Italy at a meeting of the 'Ndrangheta. Verduci's telephone conversations were intercepted by police in Italy in 2008 and 2009, including talks with Giuseppe Commisso, head of the Commisso 'ndrina in Siderno. On March 8, 2011, Verduci's name was one of 51 arrest warrants issued by Italian authorities for mafia association. Further, prosecutors named about 40 men linked to the "Canadian cell" 'Ndrangheta crime network; many with "operational links" to Italy. The charge against him in Italy meant he could not return there without arrest, but was not grounds for extradition as Mafia association is not a crime in Canada, nor deportation as he was a Canadian citizen. Police suspected Verduci was smuggling AK-47 assault rifles into the GTA, as well as having arranged

heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...

shipments from Mexico, and multi-kilo shipments of cocaine.

Death

Verduci was shot to death outside the Regina Sports Café in Woodbridge, Ontario on April 24, 2014. According to police, Verduci was a prime target for Montreal assassins because he tried to encroach on turf which the Rizzuto crime family considered their own. During the fight to steal turf from boss Vito Rizzuto, Verduci was allegedly part of a group that became involved with Salvatore Montagna, head of the Bonanno crime family of New York City.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Verduci, Carmine 1959 births 2014 deaths Canadian gangsters of Italian descent Murdered Canadian gangsters Italian people murdered abroad Murdered 'Ndranghetisti Naturalized citizens of Canada 'Ndranghetisti People from the Province of Reggio Calabria People murdered in Ontario Deaths by firearm in Ontario