Four men arrested within ten days of the Louvre break‑in are now in custody, awaiting trial. Their homes in the northern suburb of Aubervilliers have been scoured by a 100‑strong police unit, yet no trace of the jewels has emerged.
Expert Christopher Marinello of Art Recovery International says the thieves could have concealed the loot in a wall or buried it near the museum, but he doubts organized crime links. He added that the jewels might have been shipped to Antwerp, Tel Aviv, or India.
Arthur Brand, a Dutch private art detective, warned that a single suspect might confess in exchange for a lighter sentence. "You only need one to talk, and in many cases, one talks," he told AFP.
Interpol head Corrado Catesi explained that if the gems were handed to a criminal network, they could be recut and sold in the global diamond market, making recovery harder.
Despite the grim possibilities, Brand cited past recoveries—such as the 2022 TEFAF raid—to offer a sliver of hope. He said that a confession before the court could bring the jewels back to the Louvre.