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On Wednesday, Major Giuseppe De Felice, a commanding officer with Rome’s anti-Mafia police, testified that an international alert for Mr. Bruzzese’s arrest had been sent to the world’s police forces.

“Were Mr. Bruzzese stopped in any part of the world, an official document would attest to the fact that he is a fugitive,” said Maj. De Felice, through a translator.

Asked by Mr. Bruzzese’s lawyer, Barbara Jackman, why such a so-called “Red Notice” from Interpol would not be acted on by Canadian police, Maj. De Felice said it is likely because Canada does not consider Mafia association to be an extraditable offense.

Under Canada’s criminal code, people are extradited from Canada to another country to stand trial only if they are accused of something that is also considered a crime in Canada. While Canada has gangsterism charges, they are only laid when there is also evidence of other, overt criminal acts linked to organized crime. Mere membership or association is not a crime here.

It is not that the Red Notice was not known by Canadian authorities, Maj. De Felice said, but rather, “it’s a question of what can be done when they see it.”

Mr. Bruzzese, who turned 65 in prison last week, is accused by authorities of being the head of a clan of the ’Ndrangheta, the proper name of the Mafia formed in the Italian region of Calabria. Maj. De Felice said Mr. Bruzzese’s clan is based in Grotteria, just inland from the Ionic coast.

Wednesday’s hearing also heard arguments over whether an article in the National Post should be entered as evidence. The June 26 front-page article quoted Mr. Bruzzese disputing Maj. De Felice’s testimony during a break in the hearing.