French authorities have arrested five additional suspects in connection with the €88 million ($102 million) jewellery theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris, prosecutors confirmed on Thursday.
The latest arrests mark a major development in what has become one of France’s most sensational art and jewellery heists in decades. The suspects were taken into custody on Wednesday night across the Paris region, following coordinated operations by the French national police and the Paris prosecutor’s office.
According to a statement from Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the group includes a main suspect believed to have played a central role in the planning and execution of the theft. The arrests follow the earlier detention of two men who had partially admitted their involvement in the heist.
Breakthrough in the Investigation
Authorities have described the arrests as a significant step forward in the ongoing investigation. The five new suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed, are expected to be interrogated for up to four days before formal charges are brought or they are released.
Prosecutor Beccuau confirmed that DNA evidence has once again played a pivotal role in linking one of the individuals to the crime scene, where the French crown jewels were stolen in a meticulously executed operation on October 19.
“The investigation is progressing steadily,” Beccuau said. “We are beginning to establish clearer links between those who planned the heist and those who physically carried it out.”
Authorities suspect the operation was organised by a wider criminal network, potentially involving multiple layers of coordination, logistics, and financing beyond the four men captured on CCTV during the robbery.
The Daring Daylight Heist
The robbery, described by investigators as “precise and highly professional,” occurred in broad daylight shortly after the museum opened to the public at 09:30 a.m. (08:30 GMT).
Using a stolen vehicle-mounted lift, the thieves accessed the Galerie d’Apollon, an ornate section of the Louvre overlooking the River Seine, where some of France’s most treasured jewels were displayed.
Within minutes, they used disc cutters and power tools to smash open reinforced display cases, seizing eight pieces of jewellery believed to include diamond- and sapphire-encrusted items from the French crown collection.
The operation, which lasted just four minutes, was captured on museum CCTV cameras, showing the suspects escaping on two scooters before abandoning them and switching to cars as they fled east of Paris.
No visitors or staff were threatened during the incident, authorities confirmed.
Earlier Arrests and Partial Confessions
The latest arrests come just a week after two men — both in their thirties with prior criminal records — were detained in connection with the heist.
One of the suspects, a 34-year-old Algerian national, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to Algeria. The second man, aged 39, was taken into custody later that night at his residence in Aubervilliers, a suburb north of Paris.
DNA evidence linked both men to tools and materials found near the crime scene, including one of the scooters used in their escape.
During interrogation, both suspects admitted partial involvement, acknowledging that they were present during the planning and execution stages but refused to name accomplices or disclose the current location of the stolen jewels.
Beccuau emphasized that, despite widespread speculation, there is no evidence to suggest the theft was an inside job or that any museum employees were involved.
A Wider Criminal Network Suspected
Investigators now believe that the four-man team seen on CCTV represents only part of a larger organized network. Intelligence sources suggest that additional suspects may have been responsible for procuring equipment, coordinating logistics, and arranging potential buyers on the black market.
The latest arrests are believed to include individuals tied to those support and coordination roles.
“The complexity of this operation indicates a broader criminal organization,” a police official familiar with the investigation told Africa Live News. “We are now examining links to cross-border crime networks known to traffic in stolen art and luxury goods.”
Security Reinforced at France’s Cultural Institutions
In response to the incident, security measures have been significantly tightened across France’s major cultural institutions.
The Louvre Museum has undertaken an internal security review, including upgrades to its surveillance systems, staff protocols, and physical barriers protecting high-value exhibits.
Officials confirmed that the museum’s most valuable jewels have now been transferred to the Bank of France, where they are stored 26 metres underground in one of the country’s most secure vaults.
A spokesperson for the Louvre described the theft as “a profound shock to the cultural heritage of France,” adding that “the museum is cooperating fully with law enforcement to ensure the recovery of the stolen items and the prosecution of those responsible.”
An Expanding Global Investigation
The theft has attracted international attention from law enforcement agencies and art recovery experts. Interpol and Europol have been alerted to track any attempts to sell or smuggle the stolen jewels abroad.
Experts warn that the recovery process could be challenging, as the pieces may already have been dismantled, recut, or sold to private collectors through illegal channels.
Art crime analyst Jean-Marc Chastel told Africa Live News that the case highlights the “evolving sophistication of high-value cultural thefts.”
“These criminals understand both the artistic and commercial value of what they steal,” he said. “Once dismantled, such jewels can be nearly impossible to trace, especially when they are moved through multiple countries.”
Museum Under Pressure
The Louvre, often described as the world’s most visited museum, has faced intense criticism following the heist. Questions have been raised about security gaps, including reported blind spots in its CCTV system and delayed alarm responses.
Earlier this week, Louvre Museum Director Stéphane Dutilleul acknowledged that the theft exposed “critical vulnerabilities” in the institution’s surveillance infrastructure. He confirmed that new measures are being implemented to prevent future incidents, including real-time alarm response systems and expanded 24-hour monitoring coverage.
An Unfolding Story
As investigations continue, none of the stolen jewels — valued at over €88 million — have been recovered. French authorities remain hopeful that the ongoing interrogations will yield new leads.
Prosecutor Beccuau reiterated that the operation to recover the jewels is “far from over,” stressing that every available resource will be used to “bring all participants to justice and restore these treasures to the French people.”
The arrests underscore France’s determination to protect its cultural legacy amid rising concerns about the global black market for stolen art and antiquities.
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