Two men suspected of stealing jewelry worth approximately 88 million euros from the Louvre Museum in Paris have told investigators how the spectacular heist in October 2025 was organized. According to their statements, the alleged mastermind of the operation was dissatisfied with the outcome and reproached them for „could have taken more.”
The information appears in the transcripts of the hearings consulted by the French publication Le Monde and presented by The Guardian. The revelations provide the most detailed picture to date of one of the most resonant robberies ever committed in a European museum.
They had only three minutes
The two suspects, identified by the French press as Abdoulaye N. and Ghelamallah A., told judges that they were recruited only two to three days before the break-in. Before the heist, they received a video recording filmed in the Apollo Gallery, where the jewelry from the Napoleon era was displayed, to learn the route and location of the showcases.
The mission was simple, according to one of them: "Break the windows and take the jewelry from the showcases."
The two allegedly entered the museum through a balcony on the first floor, after using a lift intended for furniture transport and breaking a window in the gallery.
"When we entered, there was no one there. It was dark, only the showcases were illuminated. In the distance, we could see security agents moving behind a door," said Abdoulaye N.
He said he knew time was extremely limited. "We had to take as many jewelry as possible. If we stayed more than three minutes, we knew we had to leave, otherwise the security would be alerted. From my point of view, we stayed too long," the suspect stated.
A historic crown was dropped during the escape
According to the investigation, the two stole eight highly valuable pieces, including diadems, necklaces, earrings, and a brooch.
However, during the escape, one of the most important pieces fell out of the bag: a crown adorned with precious stones worn in the 19th century by Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III. The crown was severely damaged.
"Yes, it was me. It fell out of my bag," admitted Abdoulaye N. When shown a photograph of the damaged crown, he said, "What I did was not right. It is very serious."
"The boss was not satisfied"
The suspects claim that after the heist, they handed over the jewelry to a sponsor whose name they refuse to disclose, citing fear for their families.
"He was not satisfied. He thought we could have taken more," Abdoulaye N. told investigators.
He stated that he was supposed to receive between 15,000 and 20,000 euros for participating in the heist, possibly even more, depending on how much money the organizer would make from reselling the jewelry.
The other suspect claimed that he didn't even know the target was the Louvre. "I was told we were going to a jewelry store in Paris. If I had known it was the Louvre, I would never have set foot there," said Ghelamallah A., who stated that he agreed to participate for a sum between 20,000 and 25,000 euros.
Investigators do not confirm the existence of the sponsor
Both men claim they do not know where the jewelry ended up and refuse to provide clues about the alleged organizer or any potential accomplices.
"They are not angels," one of the suspects said about those he protects by his silence.
The other stated that, although he was not directly threatened, he received phone calls while in custody telling him to "keep quiet."
According to Le Monde, investigators have not confirmed at this time that the two acted on the orders of another person, and the investigation continues. The Guardian notes that the heist in October 2025 sparked criticism of the museum's security measures and was followed by the resignation of the Louvre's director.