Police apprehended five additional suspects connected to the theft of valuable treasures valued at $143 million Cdn from the Apollo gallery of the Louvre museum, as announced by the Paris prosecutor on Thursday. The prosecutor expressed optimism that these recent developments would aid in the recovery of the stolen jewels.
The theft, executed by four masked thieves during regular museum hours on October 19, highlighted security vulnerabilities at the renowned museum. The audacious daylight heist stirred global attention and led to introspection in France regarding what was perceived as a national embarrassment.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau disclosed on Thursday that the new suspects were arrested in coordinated operations in Paris and its suburbs. While one suspect was identified through DNA evidence left at the crime scene, it remains uncertain if all were directly involved in the theft.
The investigation has gained traction as authorities analyze encrypted communications retrieved from phones and items seized from the suspects. In France, individuals under investigation for criminal conspiracy can be detained for up to 96 hours before formal charges are pressed.
Beccuau emphasized that a specialized police unit focused on cultural object trafficking is actively searching the black market to locate the stolen artifacts. Recovering the jewels poses a greater challenge than apprehending the thieves, according to experts in art crime.
The looted items, including royal necklaces, tiaras, and earrings embellished with numerous diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, could be difficult to sell in their original form. Alternatively, the jewels might be dismantled, with the gemstones recut and the gold melted down to disguise their origins.
Beccuau urged anyone in possession of the stolen treasures to surrender them, emphasizing that the courts would consider the lack of financial loss resulting from the burglary. The museum’s security cameras failed to promptly detect the intrusion, leading to the transfer of some precious jewels to the Bank of France for safekeeping under police escort.
While four individuals executed the robbery, Beccuau acknowledged the possibility of a broader network’s involvement, potentially including a mastermind orchestrating the theft. Prior to the recent arrests, two men detained in connection with the heist had admitted partial involvement, with one attempting to flee the country before being apprehended.
One of the detained individuals, a 34-year-old Algerian national residing in France since 2010, was intercepted while attempting to board a flight to Algeria. The other, a 39-year-old man already under judicial supervision for aggravated theft, resides in Aubervilliers, a disadvantaged neighborhood in northern Paris.