Update on the Mohamed Amra Escape Investigation: 20 Indictments and New Suspects Presented to Justice

On March 7, 2025, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau and the director of the National Judicial Police, Christian Sainte, held a press conference to provide an update on the ongoing investigation into the escape of Mohamed Amra. This drug trafficker, who was arrested in Bucharest after nine months on the run, was involved in a dramatic escape at the Incarville tollgate in May 2024, which led to the deaths of two prison officers.

A “Tentacular” Investigation and Significant Progress

The prosecutor emphasized that the investigation, described as “tentacular” and “extraordinary,” has led to the indictment of 20 individuals, including Mohamed Amra himself. The trafficker faces charges of murder, escape, theft, and criminal conspiracy. The roles of these individuals in the escape are becoming clearer thanks to the exploitation of evidence and questioning of the suspects.

“The evidence has allowed us to reconstruct the entire network that facilitated this escape,” stated Laure Beccuau. According to her, the investigation revealed a typical organized crime network, with well-connected individuals working in concert.

8 New Suspects Under Investigation

On March 3, eight people were arrested as part of the investigation. These suspects are primarily logisticians accused of supporting Mohamed Amra during his escape. They are currently in police custody and will be presented to three investigating judges on March 8 for a possible indictment.

“The collaboration with the Moroccan authorities continues,” added the prosecutor, noting that two individuals are currently awaiting extradition to France.

An Intense Manhunt with Considerable Resources

To conduct this investigation, authorities deployed impressive technical resources: 800 special investigative techniques, including 440 phone interceptions and geolocations, were used. “We had peaks of 350 techniques operating simultaneously,” detailed Christian Sainte, director of the Paris Judicial Police, highlighting the extensive measures taken to dismantle this criminal network.

The Role of the Accomplices in the Bloody Escape

The prosecutor also emphasized that Mohamed Amra’s escape, which resulted in the deaths of two prison officers, could not have succeeded without the involvement of many individuals. She explained that seven people are suspected of directly participating in the attack at the Incarville tollgate, where the two officers were killed. An “organized commando” carried out this attack with precision, demonstrating the involvement of multiple actors in the escape plan. These individuals, already indicted, are part of a larger criminal network that facilitated the trafficker’s flight.

Next Judicial Steps

The eight suspects currently in custody will soon be presented to a judge of freedoms and detention, who will decide whether they will be placed in pretrial detention. This investigation continues to unfold, with new evidence allowing for the expansion of the network of accomplices involved in Mohamed Amra’s escape.