By Ogunbayi Beedee Adeyemi, October 28, 2025
adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
French authorities have arrested two men in connection with the daring October 19 theft of €88 million worth of 19th-century crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office announced Sunday.
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The suspects, both in their 30s and previously convicted of robbery, were detained in separate operations on Saturday. One was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport (Roissy) during a routine passport check as he attempted to board a flight to Algeria. The second was arrested in a raid on a residential building in the northern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers.
Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the arrests but warned that “premature media reports” could compromise efforts to locate two remaining suspects and recover the priceless artifacts. “The investigation is at a critical stage. We urge restraint in public disclosures,” she said in a brief statement.
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The robbery took place in broad daylight in the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, home to France’s imperial crown jewels from the era of Napoleon III. Four masked intruders, disguised as maintenance workers, used a truck-mounted hydraulic crane to access a second-floor balcony. Armed with an angle grinder and electric saws, they shattered reinforced glass cases in under seven minutes and escaped with eight historic pieces include A diamond and pearl tiara worn by Empress Eugénie, an emerald and diamond parure gifted by Napoleon III, a set of ruby earrings and matching necklace and five additional brooches and pendants encrusted with rare gems. Valued at €88 million for insurance purposes, experts say their cultural and historical worth is “incalculable.”
Security cameras captured the gang fleeing on high-speed motor scooters. Their getaway van was later found abandoned in the 18th arrondissement. No shots were fired, and no visitors or staff were harmed.
The breach has sparked outrage over Louvre security protocols. Despite hosting over 9 million visitors annually, the Apollo Gallery’s balcony area had no motion sensors or CCTV coverage. Alarms failed to activate during the intrusion.
Louvre Director Laurence des Cars testified before a French Senate committee last week, calling the incident “a profound failure” and pledging a full security audit. In response, the museum has Relocated remaining high-value jewels to a fortified underground vault at the Bank of France, Closed the Apollo Gallery indefinitely and Increased armed patrols and introduced mandatory bag searches.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez commended the rapid arrests, crediting a task force of over 100 investigators from the Paris anti-gang brigade (BRB) and the Judicial Police. “These arrests are a major breakthrough. We will not rest until every piece is recovered and all perpetrators are in custody,” he told reporters.
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Forensic teams collected over 150 DNA samples and fingerprints from tools, glass shards, and the abandoned crane. CCTV footage from across Paris tracked the suspects’ movements from the Louvre to safe houses in the northern suburbs.
Interpol has issued a Red Notice for the stolen jewels, warning that the gems may be dismantled and sold on black markets in North Africa, the Middle East, or Asia. Art crime experts fear the pieces symbols of French imperial glory could be lost forever if broken up. One line of inquiry focuses on possible inside assistance. Sources say a former museum contractor is being questioned, though no charges have been filed.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the theft “an attack on our shared heritage” and vowed full government support for the investigation. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) expressed alarm, urging stronger global cooperation to combat cultural trafficking.
Tourists returning to the Louvre on Monday faced long queues and enhanced security. “It’s sad, but I feel safer now,” said Maria Lopez, a visitor from Spain. “Those jewels belong to history not criminals.”
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The two arrested suspects are expected to appear before an investigating magistrate on Tuesday, facing charges of organized theft, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of cultural property. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison.
Authorities continue to appeal for public tips. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Paris Judicial Police hotline at +33 1 44 91 32 00.
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