Police have apprehended five additional suspects in connection with the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum. The stolen treasures, however, have yet to be recovered.

According to Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, law enforcement conducted operations in Paris and its environs to capture the five individuals on Wednesday night. The suspects’ identities have not been disclosed at this time.

One of the apprehended suspects is believed to have been part of the group of thieves who carried out the brazen robbery at the Louvre on October 19. Two other alleged accomplices were arrested earlier and face charges of criminal conspiracy and organized gang theft. Both have reportedly confessed to their involvement.

Despite ongoing efforts, the whereabouts of the missing jewels remain unknown. Prosecutor Beccuau stated that recent searches have failed to locate the stolen items.

The robbery, which lasted less than eight minutes, resulted in the theft of jewels valued at around £78 million. The culprits broke into the museum, used power tools to access the treasures, and absconded with eight pieces of the French crown jewels.

One of the suspects, a 34-year-old Algerian national residing in France since 2010, was intercepted at Charles de Gaulle airport while attempting to board a flight to Algeria without a return ticket. He had been living in Aubervilliers, a suburb north of Paris, and was primarily known to authorities for traffic violations. His DNA was found on one of the scooters used in the heist.

Another suspect, aged 39, was arrested at his residence in Aubervilliers. He had a history of theft-related offenses, and his DNA was discovered on one of the display cases at the crime scene, as well as on items left behind by the thieves.

Surveillance footage indicates that at least four individuals were involved in the robbery. The group arrived in a truck equipped with a lift, which two of them used to access the museum through a window.

The perpetrators fled on two scooters along the Seine River towards eastern Paris, where additional vehicles were waiting. Prosecutor Beccuau clarified that there is no evidence suggesting any staff members at the museum were complicit in the crime.

Beccuau issued a public appeal for the return of the stolen jewels, highlighting that the items are effectively unsellable and warning potential buyers of the legal consequences of possessing stolen goods.

Overall, the investigation into the Louvre Museum robbery continues, with authorities urging anyone with information on the missing jewels to come forward.