Paris, France – French authorities have arrested 10 individuals suspected of aiding the escape of gangland fugitive Mohamed Amra, as Romania prepares to extradite him following his recent capture in Bucharest.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrests on Sunday, February 23, marking a major development in the high-profile case that left two prison officers dead.
Mohamed Amra, known as “La Mouche” (The Fly), became France’s most wanted criminal after a daring and deadly ambush on a prison transport van in May 2024.
The attack, which took place in northern France, involved heavily armed assailants who killed two prison officers and wounded three others.
Amra, a suspected gang leader linked to drug trafficking and multiple murders, vanished after the assault, prompting an intensive nationwide manhunt.
Accomplices Arrested in France
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that 10 individuals were detained between Saturday and early Sunday, primarily in the northwestern cities of Rouen and Evreux.
Authorities suspect them of orchestrating Amra’s escape and aiding his months-long evasion of law enforcement.
“They are suspected of having helped in the preparation and execution of the escape, and having helped the fugitive to hide,” Beccuau said in a statement.
Police sources indicated that weapons were seized during the raids. The suspects are expected to face charges related to organized crime, aiding a fugitive, and possible involvement in the deadly ambush.
Amra’s Capture in Romania
Following months of international pursuit, Romanian police apprehended Amra on Saturday near a shopping center in Bucharest.
Authorities identified him using facial recognition technology and fingerprints after he altered his appearance, including dyeing his hair.
The swift operation came just 48 hours after Romanian authorities received intelligence from their French counterparts.
Amra appeared before a Romanian court, where his lawyer, Maria Marcu, stated that he had agreed to be extradited.
“He respects the decision of the French authorities who want to put him on trial,” Marcu said. Under the extradition process, Romania is expected to transfer him to France within 30 days.
French Authorities Pledge Security Reforms
The brazen nature of Amra’s escape, combined with his alleged continued criminal activities from prison, has sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny over prison security.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, in an open letter to prison officers, vowed to introduce tougher measures, including the creation of specialized “prison police” units and the construction of a high-security facility designed to house the country’s most dangerous criminals.
Darmanin emphasized that the new facility, inspired by Italy’s anti-mafia laws, would ensure “complete isolation” of France’s top 100 drug traffickers, preventing them from running criminal operations behind bars. “A case like Amra’s can never happen again,” he stated.
Relief for Victims’ Families
For the families of the two slain prison officers, Amra’s capture and the latest arrests offer a sense of justice after months of anguish. Their legal representatives expressed relief at the latest developments, emphasizing the need for accountability.
With Amra now set to face trial in France, authorities hope to bring closure to a case that has gripped the nation and exposed critical flaws in the country’s prison security system.
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