A woman, visibly distraught, appeared before a magistrate in Paris this week, her fate hanging in the balance. She is one of six suspects now caught in the widening net of an investigation into the audacious theft of over $102 million worth of jewelry from the Louvre Museum.
The 38-year-old woman, residing in the La Courneuve suburb, faces charges of complicity in organized theft and criminal conspiracy. The hearing, at the request of prosecutors, was closed to the public, shrouding the details of her testimony in secrecy.
The brazen heist unfolded last month in broad daylight, the thieves completing their operation in a mere seven minutes. It stunned the world, exposing vulnerabilities within the world’s most visited art museum.
Authorities initially announced two arrests, but this week revealed five more individuals were taken into custody, including what they’ve described as a prime suspect. The detentions centered in and around Paris, particularly in the Seine-Saint-Denis region.
However, the investigation isn’t without its complexities. One individual arrested this week was swiftly released without charge, his lawyers decrying the “drift net” approach of the police, suggesting indiscriminate arrests in the wake of such a high-profile crime.
The first two men arrested had “partially admitted to the charges,” according to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau. A 34-year-old Algerian national, identified by DNA found on a getaway scooter, and a 39-year-old unlicensed taxi driver are currently implicated.
Both men were already known to law enforcement for prior theft offenses. The Algerian national was apprehended while attempting to board a flight to Algeria, while the taxi driver was found near his home with no apparent plans to flee the country.
Investigators believe these two were the individuals who physically breached the gallery, while two others waited outside as accomplices. The intricate planning and execution of the heist point to a sophisticated criminal network.
Despite the arrests, the stolen jewels remain at large. A diamond-and-emerald crown, once belonging to Empress Eugenie, was discarded during the escape, but the remaining eight pieces of jewelry – including priceless necklaces and diadems – are still missing.
Among the missing treasures is an emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and a diadem adorned with nearly 2,000 diamonds, once worn by Empress Eugenie. Their recovery remains a top priority for authorities.
The investigation continues, a relentless pursuit to unravel the mystery and recover the stolen masterpieces, leaving the art world holding its breath.
