The individual who orchestrated the audacious daylight heist at the Louvre, resulting in the theft of approximately €88 million ($88 million) worth of crown jewels, reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the amount stolen, according to two suspects who spoke with investigators.
The suspects, identified locally as Abdoulaye N. and Ghelamallah A., were allegedly hired to break into the museum's Apollo gallery and retrieve specific items. Despite successfully stealing eight pieces of high-value jewelry, including a crown worn by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, and items containing a total of 8,700 stones, their client was allegedly unhappy with the outcome.
Transcripts obtained by the French newspaper Le Monde revealed that the suspects were given precise instructions: "Break windows and retrieve jewellery from inside the display cases." The stolen items included tiaras, a brooch, necklaces, and earrings. During their escape, the suspects dropped the gem-encrusted crown.
The daylight robbery, which occurred on October 19, 2025, garnered international attention and led to the resignation of the Louvre's director. The suspects, reportedly paid between €15,000 and €25,000 (£12,800 to £21,300) for the job, claimed their client "wasn't happy" because "he thought we could have taken more."
Abdoulaye N., a 40-year-old unlicensed taxi driver, admitted to his role in the theft, stating, "Yes, it was me, it fell out of my bag." He added, "What we did wasn't right." He also recounted that the mastermind was displeased because "we lost time getting in through the window."
The suspects claimed they were recruited only two or three days before the heist. They reportedly used a freight lift to access a balcony of the museum, breached the gallery with angle grinders, and made their escape on scooters. Abdoulaye N. described the scene inside as dark, with only the display case lights illuminated, and noted security personnel in the distance. "Using the power cutter, I broke the glass, took out what was inside... We were meant to take as many jewels as we could... If we stayed more than three minutes, we knew we had to leave or we'd get caught. For me, what we did took too long."
The suspects have refused to identify the mastermind, citing fears of reprisals against their families. They were arrested one week after the heist and subsequently charged with theft as part of an organized gang. The Louvre, home to artifacts spanning millennia, including the 7000 BCE Ain Ghazal Statue from Jordan, experienced significant embarrassment following the incident.