An Israeli security company has revealed that it was contacted by individuals claiming responsibility for the recent theft of jewelry from the Louvre Museum, offering secret negotiations to sell the stolen items on the Dark Web.
According to CGI Group, the Louvre management ignored the offer, even after the alleged thieves provided clear proof of possession of several stolen pieces and requested tens of millions of euros for their return.
Tzvika Naveh, CEO of CGI Group, explained that the company received an encrypted message through its website five days after the theft on October 19.
“They offered Dark Web negotiations to sell the stolen items, limiting contact to just 24 hours. We participated in a series of encrypted communications with the representative of the thieves and received indications that he genuinely held at least some of the stolen jewelry. They were on the run and needed to quickly move the loot,” Naveh said.
An intermediary contacted the Louvre management, but the museum did not respond within six days, reports KosovaPress.
“We lost confidence in the thieves, and the Louvre missed a real opportunity to recover the jewelry. Unfortunately, ego and hesitation seem to have played a role,” Naveh noted.
The CGI Group CEO added that months earlier, he had warned in an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Tempo about potential discussions on the Dark Web suggesting plans to target the Louvre.
Although some reports indicated that CGI was involved in the investigation of the theft, the Louvre denied any direct contact with the Israeli firm. CGI claims communications were routed through its Italian branch and possibly facilitated by an insurance company connected to the museum.
The Louvre theft, which took place in one of the museum’s most luxurious rooms, involved jewelry worth €88 million, including a emerald diamond necklace given by Napoleon I to his second wife Marie Louise and a diadem adorned with 212 pearls and 2,000 diamonds belonging to Empress Eugenie. Several suspects have been arrested, but the stolen treasures have not yet been recovered.
