The individual who orchestrated the theft of approximately €88 million (£75 million) worth of French crown jewels from the Louvre Museum was reportedly dissatisfied with the final haul, according to two suspects arrested in connection with the crime. The suspects, identified as Abdoulaye N and Ghelamallah A, told investigators that their client believed they could have obtained more valuables during the daring daylight heist in October 2025.

The duo was allegedly tasked with a specific objective: to break display cases and retrieve jewelry. They managed to steal eight high-value items, including tiaras, a brooch, necklaces, earrings, and the crown worn by Empress Eugenie. However, one of the suspects admitted to dropping the gem-encrusted crown during their escape.

French police officers stand next to a furniture elevator used by robbers to enter the Louvre Museum on October 19, 2025

Despite the significant value of the stolen items, the mastermind behind the robbery expressed disappointment, with one suspect stating their client "wasn't happy" because "he thought we could have taken more." The suspects, who were reportedly paid between €15,000 to €25,000 (£12,800 to £21,300) for the job, have refused to name the mastermind due to fear of reprisals against their families.

Abdoulaye N, a 40-year-old unlicensed taxi driver and one of the arrested suspects, acknowledged his role in the theft, stating, "Yes, it was me, it fell out of my bag." He also commented on the operation, "What we did wasn't right." He claimed that he and his accomplice, a 36-year-old unemployed Algerian man diagnosed with Diogenes syndrome, were instructed to "break windows and retrieve jewellery from inside the display cases."

CCTV footage of the moment an alleged suspect in the Louvre heist reaches into a display case to steal the French crown jewels

The suspects were apprehended just one week after the heist, which occurred on October 19, 2025. They have since been charged with theft as part of an organized gang. Transcripts from interviews with investigators, as reported by Le Monde, indicate that the pair was recruited only two to three days prior to the robbery.

According to accounts, the thieves utilized a freight lift to access a balcony of the Louvre, then used angle grinders to breach the gallery. They made their escape using the same lift basket, all while in plain sight of tourists, and fled the scene on scooters, narrowly evading law enforcement.

Members of a forensic team inspect a window believed to have been used in the heist

Abdoulaye N described the interior of the gallery as dark, with only display case lights illuminated, and noted security personnel in the distance. He explained the process of breaking the glass and retrieving the items, adding, "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." He also mentioned that time was lost gaining entry through the window, contributing to the client's dissatisfaction.

Thieves got away with an emerald necklace, pictured, from the Marie-Louise set. They were made by François-Régnault Nitot in 1810

They also stole a pair of emerald earrings, pictured, from the same set

This incident caused considerable embarrassment for France and the Louvre, a museum renowned for housing historical artifacts from across the globe, including the 7000 BCE Ain Ghazal Statue. The security breach led to the resignation of the Louvre's director.