Almost a week after a daring gang pulled off what’s being dubbed the “heist of the century” at Paris’s Louvre Museum — vanishing with €88 million worth of jewels — French investigators have made their first breakthrough, arresting two suspects in a case that’s gripped the nation and cast a harsh light on the security of its most iconic cultural institution.
On 25 October, two men suspected of being part of the Louvre gang were taken into custody. One was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport while allegedly attempting to flee the country; the other was detained hours later in a Paris suburb. The arrests mark the first major breakthrough in an investigation that has gripped France and the global art world alike.
The men behind the mask: Who are the suspects?
According to reports in Le Parisien, both suspects are in their thirties and originally from Seine-Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris known for its high crime rates. Both are believed to be known to police from previous cases.
One suspect was caught during a passport check at Charles de Gaulle Airport, reportedly in possession of some of the stolen jewellery and preparing to board a flight to Algeria. The second was tracked down later that evening in Seine-Saint-Denis and was allegedly preparing to travel to Mali, in West Africa. Le Monde reported that one man is a French national, while the other holds both French and Algerian citizenship.
The two are now in pre-trial detention as part of investigations into “organised theft” and “criminal conspiracy to commit a crime”. Under French law, they can be held for up to 96 hours before being charged.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the arrests but criticised the premature leak of information about the case.
“I deeply deplore the hasty disclosure of this information by informed individuals, without consideration for the investigation,” Beccuau said. “This revelation can only harm the investigative efforts of the hundred or so investigators involved in the search for both the stolen jewellery and all the perpetrators.”
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the police for their quick action.
“I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to the investigators who worked tirelessly as I asked them to and who always had my full confidence,” he said. “The investigations must continue while respecting the confidentiality of the inquiry. Let’s keep going.”
Nunez also urged the media to refrain from publishing sensitive details that could jeopardise the ongoing manhunt for the remaining suspects and the missing jewels.
How police closed in: A manhunt of historic scale
The investigation into the daring robbery was immediately handed over to the Brigade de Répression du Banditisme (BRB) — France’s elite anti-organised crime unit known for cracking major heists, including the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris.
A source close to the investigation described it as “one of the biggest manhunts in French history”. Investigators scoured CCTV footage, mobile phone records, and forensic evidence while questioning potential informants linked to organised crime networks.
Crucially, forensic teams recovered a treasure trove of clues at the scene — gloves, a high-visibility vest, a motorbike helmet, angle grinders, power tools, a blowtorch, and a walkie-talkie — all abandoned in the thieves’ haste. More than 150 DNA samples and fingerprints were lifted from these items, helping police identify the two men now in custody, according to The Times.
How the heist unfolded: Seven minutes of chaos
The four-member gang executed the Louvre robbery with astonishing precision. Around 9.30 am, just before the museum opened to the public, the thieves arrived using a vehicle-mounted lift to access the Galerie d’Apollon (Gallery of Apollo) — the section housing some of France’s most valuable jewels.
Using power tools, they cut through a window overlooking the River Seine and stormed inside, threatening security guards who immediately evacuated the area. In a span of seven minutes, the thieves smashed through two reinforced glass cases containing historic jewels linked to France’s royal and imperial families.
Among the eight stolen items were:
A sapphire diadem, necklace, and single earring linked to Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense
An emerald necklace and earrings once owned by Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife
A reliquary brooch
Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and corsage-bow brooch — considered masterpieces of 19th-century craftsmanship
However, in their rush, the thieves dropped a crown that had once belonged to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, before fleeing on scooters into central Paris.
The heist exposed major flaws in the Louvre’s security. Museum director Laurence des Cars admitted to senators that there was “highly insufficient” camera coverage on the museum’s outer walls.
“There are some perimeter cameras, but they are ageing,” she said. “Unfortunately, on the side of the Apollo Gallery, the only camera installed is directed westward and therefore did not cover the balcony involved in the break-in.”
Where are the jewels now?
Following the arrests, hopes have been rekindled that the stolen jewels could still be recovered. Paris prosecutor Beccuau said she had “a small hope” and remained “optimistic” about the investigation’s progress.
Dutch art historian Arthur Brand, renowned for recovering stolen art, told Deutsche Welle, “It’s great news that within a week these two suspects have been caught. I already suspected it because DNA was left at the scene.” He praised French police, saying they were doing an “amazing job.”
Whether the arrests will lead to the recovery of the jewels remains uncertain. Brand noted that it largely depends on the cooperation of those in custody. Other experts, however, are less optimistic. American art historian and lawyer Erin Thompson warned that the stolen gems could already be on the black market, possibly recut beyond recognition. “They might end up in one of the world’s major stone-cutting centres, such as New York, Antwerp or Thailand,” she said.
Race against time: Louvre tightens security
As the investigation continues, the Louvre has quietly taken steps to safeguard its remaining treasures. On Friday, a police-escorted convoy transferred several of the museum’s most valuable jewels to the Bank of France, located just 500 metres away.
The items are now secured in the Bank’s underground vault — the Souterraine — 26 metres below ground level. The vault already houses 90 per cent of France’s gold reserves, along with rare manuscripts by Leonardo da Vinci and other national treasures. The contents are estimated to be worth €600 million.
A test of national pride
The Louvre heist has become more than a tale of missing jewels; it’s a blow to French prestige. That such a theft occurred in broad daylight at the nation’s most visited cultural institution has sparked public outrage and demands for urgent security reforms.
For now, with two suspects in custody and an international manhunt still underway, France waits — hoping its lost crown jewels will one day return home.
(With inputs from agencies)
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