Louvre Heist Suspect Identified as Social Media Personality with Security Background
One of the four men arrested in connection with the theft of €88 million (£77 million) worth of jewels from the Louvre museum has been identified as Abdoulaye N, a 39-year-old man with a presence on social media and a previous employment history in security, officials confirmed today.
Abdoulaye N, arrested at his home in Aubervilliers, a suburb north of Paris, six days after the October 19th heist, faces charges of organised theft and criminal conspiracy. His DNA was reportedly found on display cases and abandoned items at the scene, including gloves and disc cutters. The brazen theft involved smashing a window and display cases in the Apollo gallery, then escaping on motorbikes. The stolen items included pieces gifted by Napoleon I and belonging to the wife of Napoleon III, representing a significant loss to France’s cultural heritage.
Known online as “Doudou Cross Bitume,” Abdoulaye N has posted videos on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram featuring motorbike stunts and fitness tips. Some videos showcase him riding a Yamaha TMax scooter, the same type used in the thieves’ getaway. He previously worked as a security guard at the Pompidou Centre, as well as for logistics firms UPS and Toys R Us. His lawyer, Maxime Cavaillé, stated the defence would be “extremely vigilant” about “respect of the presumption of innocence” and protecting their client’s rights. According to reports, Abdoulaye N has a prior criminal record including 15 offences, and was previously convicted of robbing a jewellery store in 2014. You can learn more about the Louvre Museum on its official website.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau noted that the suspects’ profiles are “not those one generally associates” with sophisticated organised crime, leading to speculation about a potential mastermind. A trial scheduled for yesterday on separate charges of damaging public property was postponed due to media attention surrounding the Louvre case. Investigators are still working to recover the stolen jewels and are continuing to investigate the full extent of the conspiracy.
