An Israeli security firm, founded by former state security personnel, claimed it was approached via the Dark Web to purchase the Empress Eugénie’s diadem stolen from the Louvre on 19 Oct 2023.
Israeli Media Report Dark Web Offer
Israeli public TV Kan reported that a firm with a 140‑year history had been offered to buy a jewel stolen from the Louvre in October. The contact was allegedly made on the Dark Web, a hidden part of the internet.
CGI Group, a security company founded by former Israeli security service members, confirmed receiving a concrete proposal. The offer was to purchase the diadem of Empress Eugénie, one of the most valuable stolen jewels made of diamonds and pearls, proven by a photo of the artifact.
France Refuses to Confirm Israeli Claims
Israelis told French intelligence that the return of the diadem demanded 8 million euros in cryptocurrency and that an intermediary had offered to hand over the jewel in Slovakia. CGI Group says negotiations were cut off by the French side.
Israeli media claim the company is aiding French services in investigating the theft, while the Louvre has denied any cooperation. The French Ministry of Culture has not confirmed these allegations.
Louvre Theft Details
The French Ministry of Culture said that on 19 October two high‑security cases were robbed in the Louvre, and eight pieces of cultural heritage were stolen, including a necklace of emeralds and diamonds gifted by Napoleon to his wife, the Empress Maria Luise, the tiara of Empress Eugénie, and two necklaces.
These jewels, worth nearly 90 million euros, have not been recovered. A ninth item, a crown of Empress Eugénie covered with diamonds and emeralds, was found nearby the Louvre but was lost during the escape.
On 19 November, a month after the theft, the Louvre said it was taking urgent steps to strengthen security, as it announced during a hearing of the French National Assembly committee.