Israeli Firm Almost Recovered Stolen Louvre Jewels
A daring theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris in October sent shockwaves through the art world. Among the valuable artifacts stolen were nine pieces of rare jewelry, including tiaras, earrings, necklaces, and pins, once belonging to French queens and empresses. The total value of the stolen items was estimated at a staggering 88 million euros.
The Attempted Sale and the Israeli Connection
In the aftermath of the heist, the thieves attempted to sell the stolen jewelry via the dark web. According to the German newspaper Bild, the criminals contacted the Israeli security firm CGI Group just five days after the theft. Zvika Nave, the head of CGI Group, revealed that an individual claiming to represent the thieves contacted the company through its official website, proposing to negotiate the sale of the stolen artifacts. The thieves stipulated a response within 24 hours.
Intricate Negotiations and Investigations
CGI Group, in turn, collaborated with an anonymous individual with ties to the Louvre Museum to track down the stolen jewelry. Nave confirmed that after extensive negotiations and examinations, the company determined that the anonymous person possessed at least a portion of the stolen items. This led CGI Group to accept the thieves’ terms.
French Authorities Intervene
CGI Group promptly informed the French authorities. However, complications thwarted the attempts to recover the stolen artifacts. The investigation took a critical turn on October 26, when French authorities apprehended two suspects. DNA samples from the crime scene were used to identify the suspects. The first was caught at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to flee to Algeria, and the second was apprehended in a Parisian suburb before traveling to Mali.
Further Developments
The investigation continued to unfold. On October 30, a third suspect was arrested, and media sources reported five additional arrests on the same day. This widened the scope of the investigation into the theft, which has shaken one of the world’s most famous museums.
Source: Annahar
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