Moroccan authorities have handed over two French nationals accused of helping notorious criminal Mohamed Amra escape from a prison convoy in France.
The extradition, carried out on August 13, 2025, marks a major breakthrough in a case that has shocked France and highlighted the importance of international law enforcement cooperation.
Swift Action by Moroccan Police Leads to Arrest in Marrakech
The two men Alan Gomes, 28, and Albinou Da Sylva, 38 were both wanted in France for their alleged roles in the deadly ambush that freed Mohamed Amra in May 2024. In response to an Interpol Red Notice, Moroccan police swiftly located and arrested the suspects in Marrakech in February 2025, notably just one day after Amra himself was captured in Romania. Following the arrests, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin publicly thanked Morocco for acting so quickly, describing the extradition as a strong and clear example of cross-border justice working effectively in real time.
Deadly Normandy Prison Convoy Attack That Shook France
On May 14, 2024, four armed men suddenly intercepted a prison van transporting Mohamed Amra at the Incarville toll station in Normandy. Immediately afterward, the attackers opened fire, killing two prison guards and wounding three others. Carried out with military precision, the ambush allowed Amra, nicknamed “The Fly”, to escape successfully. As a result, the operation triggered one of the largest and most intense manhunts in recent French history, drawing nationwide attention and prompting authorities to mobilize extensive resources to capture him.
Following the escape, French investigators launched an extensive search, working with law enforcement agencies across Europe.
Interpol issued a Red Notice, and intelligence sharing became key. On February 22, 2025, Romanian police arrested Amra near a shopping center in Bucharest.
Amra had altered his appearance in an attempt to remain undetected, but surveillance teams managed to track him down after months of careful monitoring.
Morocco’s Role in the Extradition Process to France
After detaining Gomes and Da Sylva, Morocco promptly began the legal process for their extradition to France. . Subsequently, upon their arrival in Paris, authorities immediately placed the two men under judicial investigation for murder, armed robbery, and aiding a prison escape, thereby marking a significant step forward in the case.
The French Interior Ministry has publicly credited Moroccan security services for their efficiency.
Observers are hailing this operation as an example of how strong diplomatic and police relationships can dismantle dangerous cross-border criminal networks.
Officials on both sides say they plan to deepen cooperation on countering organized crime, drug trafficking, and violent gang activity.
Impact of the Prison Escape on France’s Criminal Justice System
The prison break has exposed major weaknesses in prisoner transport security. In response, France has announced plans to increase armed escorts, upgrade transport vehicles, and improve intelligence gathering before high-risk transfers.
Authorities have also arrested dozens of people connected to Amra’s criminal network, including suspected members of the so-called Black Mafia Family, a syndicate linked to large-scale drug trafficking in Europe and South Americ
French-Moroccan MP Farida Amrani joins flotilla 
Morocco’s Sustainable Development Hailed Benchmark for Africa 
France Starts Pilot Program to Teach Romanian Language 
Could France’s Economic Turmoil Spark a Eurozone Debt Crisis? 
France is preparing its hospitals for a great war 
German Companies Turn to Morocco to Tackle Labor Shortages