French Fugitive 'The Fly' Captured After Months on the Run

After a harrowing nine-month manhunt, French escapee Mohamed Amra, linked to a notorious drug gang, has been captured in Romania. The ambush that led to his escape claimed the lives of two prison officers, prompting an extensive intercontinental search.

Mohamed Amra, a French inmate known as 'The Fly,' has been apprehended in Romania nine months after his dramatic escape following a deadly ambush on a prison transport. The incident, which took place in May 2024, resulted in the tragic deaths of two prison officers and left three others injured. Amra, who has ties to a prominent drug gang in Marseille, was being transferred after a burglary conviction when the assault occurred.

French President Emmanuel Macron heralded the arrest as a "formidable success" and expressed condolences to the families affected by the deadly ambush. Macron commended the collaborative efforts of European counterparts and French investigators who worked tirelessly to recapture Amra. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau also recognized Romania's "crucial cooperation" in the operation.

The ambush unfolded dramatically at a toll booth near Rouen when gunmen armed with military-grade weaponry rammed the van carrying Amra and his guards. The assailants, who successfully fled the scene in an abandoned vehicle, coordinated their attack meticulously, which shocked French authorities and the public alike. The Paris prosecutor's office had reported that Amra was not classified as a highly dangerous prisoner, leading to questions about the level of security during his transport.

Prior to his escape, Amra had allegedly attempted to break free from his cell, an act his lawyer described as evidence of his desperation. Following the attack, more than 300 investigators were mobilized in an unprecedented manhunt that spanned across northwestern France, setting up multiple roadblocks in the process.

Finally, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou celebrated the successful conclusion of the manhunt on social media, declaring, "After a long and exhaustive search, Amra has been caught, finally!" This case marks a solemn chapter in the ongoing struggle for enhanced prison security and the safety of law enforcement personnel in France.