A notorious French fugitive, known as 'The Fly,' who orchestrated a deadly escape resulting in the deaths of two guards last year, has been extradited from Romania to France. Mohamed Amra was apprehended in Bucharest after a nine-month international manhunt and was identified by Romanian police despite attempting to alter his appearance by dyeing his hair red. The Bucharest Court of Appeal approved his extradition request, leading to his handover to French authorities at an airport near Bucharest on Tuesday.
Upon his arrival in France, Amra was taken to the main Paris courthouse to face the consequences of his escape last year, which involved a burglary conviction. Additionally, he will be prosecuted for other offenses, including murder, attempted murder, and escaping from custody.
The search for Amra gained significant attention in May when armed individuals attacked a prison convoy in Normandy, resulting in the death of two guards and injuries to three others while aiding his escape. Prior to his escape, Amra had been convicted of burglary in Evreux, Normandy, and was also under investigation for attempted organized homicide and a fatal kidnapping.
Interpol issued an arrest notice for Amra, and French authorities alerted international counterparts as they suspected he had fled the country. Following his arrest in Bucharest, French President Emmanuel Macron commended the successful capture and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of European partners in ending the extensive cross-border manhunt.
Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed that Amra had ties to organized crime groups in Marseille and was believed to be the leader of a drug trafficking network. In connection with his escape and its aftermath, 25 individuals have been detained across multiple countries as of Monday night.
