A suspected gangland assassin, labeled as France’s “public enemy number one,” was officially charged under a range of organized crime allegations, including murder, before an investigating magistrate in Paris following his extradition from Romania.
French inmate Mohamed Amra, who had been at large since escaping last May during an ambush that resulted in the deaths of two prison officers, was apprehended near a shopping center in Bucharest on Saturday.
Known by the nickname ‘La Mouche’ (The Fly), Amra “arrived at the Paris judicial court shortly after 8pm,” announced prosecutor Laure Beccuau in a statement.
He was transported to the court from Villacoublay airbase near Paris in a convoy of unmarked vehicles accompanied by police motorcycles, as reported by AFP journalists.
During questioning by an investigating judge, he chose to remain silent.
Transformed Appearance
Although he altered his appearance and dyed his hair orange while evading capture, Amra was recognized through facial recognition technology and fingerprints.
Romania had pledged to extradite the well-known convict to French authorities, despite his legal team in Bucharest arguing that he was a “victim of judicial error”.
Handcuffed and escorted by Romanian special police, Amra was seen navigating through the lobby of Bucharest airport.
Since the weekend, authorities have arrested over 20 individuals believed to be his accomplices, including those in Morocco and Spain.
Amra escaped nine months prior when armed assailants with military-grade rifles attacked a prison transport van in Normandy, northern France.
He disappeared without a trace following the incident.
The ferocity of the ambush, documented on CCTV, shocked the nation, leading to Amra instantly becoming France’s most-wanted fugitive.
Forensic investigators examine the scene of Amra’s escape, which resulted in the deaths of two prison officers.
The authorities assembled over 300 investigators to locate Amra, who has a lengthy history of violent crime convictions dating back to his early teenage years.
A 2024 report from the judiciary detailed that he began with aggravated robbery offenses and steadily “slid towards violence,” ultimately becoming involved in organized crime.
This report indicated that authorities had previously underestimated the extent of his danger.
Amra is believed to have continued his drug-related operations from prison and even to have orchestrated hits while incarcerated.
At the time of his escape last May, he was facing charges for attempted murder and involvement in a gang-related homicide in Marseille, a central hub for drug trafficking and gang violence.
Local police stated that Amra had been residing in Romania since February 8, when associates helped him secure an apartment in suburban Bucharest.
Sources close to the investigation informed AFP yesterday that it is likely Amra remained in France until his departure to Romania in early February.
They indicated that he was planning to undergo cosmetic surgery, after which he intended to flee to Colombia.
