Louvre heist suspects say mastermind was disappointed with 88 million jewel haul
Two men charged with stealing €88 million worth of crown jewels from the Louvre have revealed that the alleged mastermind behind the heist was disappointed with their haul, according to investigation transcripts seen by Le Monde.
Abdoulaye N and Ghelamallah A, the two suspects, shared new details about the infamous burglary during questioning by investigating judges last month. They claimed a mysterious mastermind had orchestrated their break-in into the Louvre’s Apollo gallery, with both saying they were recruited two or three days before the events.
The mastermind, whose identity remains unknown, was reportedly unhappy with the amount of jewelry taken. "The mastermind was not happy. He thought we could have taken more. We lost time getting in through the window," Abdoulaye N told investigators.
The men were promised up to €25,000 each for their involvement in the heist, which took place in October 2025. They gained access to a first-floor balcony using a furniture lift, smashed through the window of the gallery, and used a power cutter to break the glass and access the jewels.
During their escape, they dropped a gem-encrusted crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, the 19th-century wife of Napoleon III. "Yes, it was me. It fell out of my bag," one of the suspects admitted during the interrogation.
The men claimed they were tasked with breaking the windows and grabbing the jewelry inside the display cases. Abdoulaye N, a 40-year-old unlicensed taxi driver and former internet sensation, was recruited for his athletic abilities and past experience with motorbike stunts. He was promised up to €20,000 depending on the haul.
Ghelamallah A, a 36-year-old unemployed Algerian man, claimed he was told the target was a jewelry store in Paris. "I would have never set foot there if I had known it was the Louvre," he said.
The pair allegedly stole eight pieces of jewelry, including tiaras, a brooch, necklaces, and earrings belonging to former French royalty. The haul included more than 8,700 precious stones valued at a record €88 million.
The investigation is ongoing, and the authorities have not yet confirmed whether the men were acting on someone else's orders. The suspects are currently in custody and have been charged with organized theft.
The Louvre heist has been one of the most significant art thefts in recent history, drawing worldwide attention to the security measures at the world's most visited museum.
Follow us for live European news
- 2
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
1 further source not geolocated
Articles
Episódio 2. Câmara Lenta José Valbom acorda num armazém, vigiado por homens que falam russo. Os inspetores seguem o rasto de um carro preto. A polícia aperta o cerco, mas o tempo está a esgotar-se.
observador · about 6 hours ago
Seijan valvontakameraan tallentui täysin häikäilemätön rikos
iltalehti · about 6 hours ago
Localizan la estatua de Curro tras ser arrancada de la Barqueta un mes después de colocarla La Policía Local custodia la estatua de la mascota de la Expo 92 tras el acto vandálicoCurro desaparece de la Barqueta: roban la estatua de la mascota de la Expo 92 de Sevilla un mes después de colocarla La estatua de la mascota de la Exposición Universal de 1992, Curro, ha sido localizada a última hora de la tarde de este domingo, tras haber sido arrancada tan solo un mes después de ser colocada en la Puerta de la Barqueta de Sevilla. Según han confirmado fuentes municipales a Europa Press, y adelantaba Diario de Sevilla, por el momento la estatua está siendo custodiada por la Policía Local, que recibió una llamada al teléfono 092 alertando del hallazgo. El Consistorio asegura que este acto será denunciado e investigado. El propio alcalde de Sevilla, José Luis Sanz, condenó unos hechos que calificó como injustificables. No tienen cabida alguna en una ciudad que es modelo de convivencia, lamentaba a través de su cuenta oficial de X.
eldiario.es · about 6 hours ago
Wolf waar politie Wageningen meldingen over kreeg blijkt vermiste hond te zijn De politie in Wageningen heeft zondag meldingen binnengekregen over een wolf in Wageningen. Niet veel later bleek het niet om een wolf, maar om een vermiste hond te gaan.
nu.nl · about 6 hours ago
Wer war Paser? 3000 Jahre alte Grabstätte nahe Luxor entdeckt In der thebanischen Nekropole legte ein Forschungsteam die Grabanlage eines Mannes namens Paser frei. Sein Rang in der Verwaltung oder Priesterschaft ist noch ungeklärt
der standard · about 6 hours ago
Mastermind of €88m Louvre heist said they could have taken more, say suspects Several pieces of historic jewelry were stolen during the break-in at the Paris museum last year
independent · about 6 hours ago
Loch in der Scheibe: Unbekannte beschädigen Spätkauf in Potsdam Die Polizei ermittelt, nachdem Unbekannte eine Scheibe in einem Geschäft in Potsdam beschädigt haben. Die Hintergründe des Vorfalls sind unklar.
tagesspiegel · about 6 hours ago
Ékszerrablás a Louvre-ban: a gyanúsítottak szerint csalódott volt a megrendelő, nagyobb fogásra számított A rendőrség nem erősítette meg, hogy a két férfit felbérelték volna.
hvg.hu · about 6 hours ago
Furturi de lux și cerșetorie în „ture: cum funcționează gruparea de români care terorizează centrul Londrei O grupare de migranți români, acuzată de comercianții din centrul Londrei că este implicată în furturi din buzunare, furturi din magazine și cerșetorie organizată, și-ar fi reinstalat tabăra într-o zonă turistică.
adevarul · about 6 hours ago
![[lalibre] "Je naurais jamais mis les pieds là-bas si javais su": deux braqueurs du Louvre reviennent sur le cambriolage #Europe](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/preview_cards/images/200/007/385/original/079e5fa58cf5ea4f.jpg)
[lalibre] "Je naurais jamais mis les pieds là-bas si javais su": deux braqueurs du Louvre reviennent sur le cambriolage #Europe
mastodon bot · about 6 hours ago
Nový nález u města Luxor. Nizozemští archeologové odkryli v Egyptě 3000 let starou hrobku Archeologové odkryli 3000 let starou hrobku poblíž města Luxor, které se nachází v jižní části Egypta. S odvoláním na nedělní prohlášení egyptského ministerstva cestovního ruchu a památek to napsala agentura AFP. Hrobku patřící muži jménem Paser objevila nizozemská výprava z univerzity v Leidenu v thébské nekropoli v oblasti Gurna, západně od známého pohřebiště.
irozhlas.cz · about 6 hours ago
"Je naurais jamais mis les pieds là-bas si javais su": deux braqueurs du Louvre reviennent sur le cambriolage Les deux hommes soupçonnés davoir volé les bijoux royaux ont répondu à des interrogatoires en juin. ...
la libre · about 6 hours ago
Anonieme opdrachtgever van overval kroonjuwelen in Louvre teleurgesteld ondanks buit van 88 miljoen euro
de morgen · about 6 hours ago
Hätä saksalaisnaisesta Lapissa kasvaa – Soita poliisille, jos tiedät jotain
iltalehti · about 6 hours ago
Aleksanteri Kivimäki on etsintäkuulutettu – Erikoinen yksityiskohta
iltalehti · about 6 hours ago
Einbruch in Berlin-Neukölln: Maskierte stehlen Geldautomaten aus Spätkauf Mitten in der Nacht brechen Maskierte in einen Spätkauf in Neukölln ein und stehlen einen Geldautomaten. Die Polizei sucht nach Hinweisen zu den Tätern.
tagesspiegel · about 6 hours ago
Geiselnahme: Mutmaßlicher Täter schweigt zu Geiselnahme in Berlin In einem Supermarkt nimmt ein Mann eine Frau als Geisel. Die ganze Nacht hält er sie in seiner Gewalt. Erst als Beamte am Samstagmorgen das Gebäude stürmen, enden ihre Qualen. Was trieb den Täter an?
tagesspiegel · about 6 hours ago
Mărturiile hoților care au furat bijuterii de peste 80 de milioane de euro din Muzeul Luvru: „Când am intrat, nu era nimeni acolo Doi bărbați suspectați că au sustras bijuterii ale coroanei în valoare de 88 de milioane de euro din Muzeul Luvru din Paris, în luna octombrie a anului trecut, ar fi spus anchetatorilor că presupusul organizator al jafului a fost dezamăgit de prada obținută și a considerat că „ar fi putut să ia mai mult, relatează The Guardian.
digi24 · about 6 hours ago
Louvren koruvarkaus | Ryöstön takapiru oli pettynyt 88 miljoonan euron saaliiseen, väittää epäilty Kaksi Louvren koruvarkaudesta epäiltyä kertoi kuulusteluissa, että he saivat toimeksiannon ryöstää taidemuseo. Varkaiden matkaan lähti lähes 90 miljoonan euron edestä koruja.
helsingin sanomat · about 6 hours ago
Efter tystnaden – rånarna berättar om kuppen på Louvren I månader höll de tyst – men inte längre. I förhör berättar duon som misstänks för Louvrenkuppen om det spektakulära rånet. De hävdar bland annat att de blev lejda mot betalning.
dagens nyheter · about 6 hours ago
Episódio 3. Três cadeados e uma chave Vicente Valbom cai a pique nas sondagens. Zé consegue fugir e pede ajuda a um estranho.
observador · about 6 hours ago