Arrest and Upcoming Extradition of Mohamed Amra: A Look Back at Nine Months on the Run and a Deadly Escape

Arrested on Saturday, February 23, in Bucharest after nine months on the run, French drug trafficker Mohamed Amra, nicknamed “La Mouche,” will be handed over to France within 30 days, his lawyer Maria Marcu announced. Although he denies the charges against him, particularly those related to his escape, he has stated that he wishes to respect the decision of the French authorities who want to prosecute him.

An Unprecedentedly Violent Escape

On May 14, 2024, Mohamed Amra, a repeat offender already convicted of drug trafficking and suspected of ordering multiple murders, was being transferred in a prison van when a heavily armed commando attacked the vehicle at the Incarville (Eure) toll booth. The brutal operation claimed the lives of two prison officers and injured three others. This dramatic escape triggered a massive Europe-wide manhunt.

Arrest in Bucharest and Extradition Procedure

Thanks to close cooperation between French and Romanian investigators, Mohamed Amra was located and arrested around 3 p.m. near a shopping center in the Romanian capital. Despite an attempt to change his appearance by dyeing his hair, his identity was confirmed through facial recognition and fingerprint comparison.

Presented to a Romanian judge on Sunday, he agreed to his extradition to France. Under European arrest warrant procedures, exchanges between the two countries will determine the transfer conditions to ensure a secure return.

A Network Dismantled

Following this arrest, ten people from Mohamed Amra’s entourage were apprehended in France, Spain, and the Netherlands. These suspects are accused of participating in the planning and execution of the escape, as well as helping to hide the fugitive during his time on the run.

A Criminal Path Marked by Escalating Violence

First convicted at the age of 13 for aggravated theft, Mohamed Amra gradually sank into organized crime. A report by the General Inspectorate of Justice published in July 2024 highlighted that his growing dangerousness had not been fully assessed, despite suspicions of violent criminal activities conducted from prison.

His arrest has been hailed by the French government as a victory for international judicial and police cooperation, bringing an end to one of the most publicized manhunts in recent years.

Mohamed Amra’s return to France will mark the beginning of a highly anticipated trial, set to shed light on the many gray areas surrounding this deadly escape and the criminal organization behind it.