French authorities expressed frustration over the premature disclosure of the arrests of two suspects involved in the Louvre jewelry heist. Public prosecutor Laure Beccuau criticized the individuals who leaked the information, emphasizing the detrimental impact on the ongoing investigation involving around one hundred investigators searching for the stolen jewelry and the culprits.
While the exact number of arrests was not disclosed, Beccuau mentioned that one suspect was apprehended at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport as he was attempting to leave the country. Reports indicate that a second individual was also detained in the Paris region, but there is no update on the whereabouts of the stolen jewels from the Louvre.
According to French media, both suspects are from Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris, and were swiftly apprehended by police following surveillance. One of the suspects was intercepted just before fleeing to Algeria. Beccuau, serving as Paris Prosecutor and head of France’s anti-organized crime jurisdiction, refrained from providing further details at this stage.
The arrested individuals are currently in pre-trial detention under investigation for “organized theft” and “criminal conspiracy to commit a crime.” They can be held for up to 96 hours, and additional information on the case will be shared after the police custody period ends.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez commended the investigators for their diligent work and emphasized the importance of continuing the investigations while maintaining confidentiality. Authorities suspect the detained individuals of being part of the criminal group responsible for the daring daylight robbery at the renowned museum, where jewels valued at £76 million were stolen.
Among the stolen items are irreplaceable royal pieces such as sapphire and emerald necklaces, a diamond brooch adorned with 2,438 diamonds, and the emerald crown of Empress Eugenie, which was dropped during the escape and later recovered with damages.