Mohamed Amra, a notorious fugitive known as “The Fly,” has been arrested in Romania after a nine-month manhunt following his deadly prison escape in France last May. Ten of his alleged accomplices have also been detained.
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the capture as a “formidable success” and praised European colleagues for their efforts. Romanian police arrested Amra near a Bucharest shopping center, bringing an end to a high-profile search that spanned over 300 investigators.
Amra, 30, was sentenced for burglary in Normandy and faces additional charges of attempted organized homicide and kidnapping that resulted in death. He has connections to Marseille’s organized crime syndicates and is suspected of heading a drug trafficking network.
The French authorities had been searching for Amra since his escape from a prison convoy in Normandy, which resulted in the deaths of two guards. Interpol issued a red notice for his arrest, and Romanian police located him within 48 hours of being alerted by their French colleagues.
Amra’s capture marks a significant victory for French law enforcement in combating organized crime. He has a long history of convictions for violent crimes that started when he was in his early teens. The authorities had underestimated the danger posed by Amra at first, but have since taken steps to improve prison security and prevent similar escapes.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/france-fugitive-the-fly-arrested-deadly-prison-escape-mohamed-amra