Two individuals were apprehended in Morocco and subsequently sent to France for allegedly aiding Mohamed Amra in his escape.
Mohamed Amra, a notorious French drug trafficker, was arrested in Romania in February 2025, after nine months on the run. His capture marked a significant milestone in the investigation that began when he escaped from a prison transport vehicle in May 2024.
The extradition of two men suspected of being accomplices in Amra's escape was announced by French Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, on Twitter. Ian (Alan) Gomes, 28, and Albinou Da Sylva, 38, were arrested in Morocco in February 2025 and were extradited to France in August 2025.
According to reports from Le Parisien, these two men are wanted by arrest warrants and were believed to have been involved in the armed ambush that freed Amra during his prisoner transport. The attack, which took place at the Incarville toll station in central France, resulted in the death of two prison officers and injuries to three others.
Gomes is believed to have been part of the armed commando that attacked the prison transport van. Both suspects, originally from Évreux—the same town as Amra—were subject to Interpol red notices.
The extradition of Gomes and Da Sylva completes a significant step in the investigation and prosecution of those involved in the May 14, 2024, prison van ambush. The case has required extensive resources to apprehend the suspects, with at least 41 individuals under investigation.
Notably, 30 of these individuals are currently in provisional detention. The number of suspects who were on the run abroad is not specified.
French Interior and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin publicly welcomed their extradition and praised Moroccan authorities for their swift cooperation. Upon arrival in France, the two men will be presented to a judge.
References: [1] Le Parisien. (2025, August 1). Mohamed Amra's accomplices extradited from Morocco. Retrieved from https://www.leparisien.fr/france/mohamed-amra-ses-accomplices-extradites-du-maroc-07-08-2025-7690121.php [2] France 24. (2025, February 1). Mohamed Amra arrested in Romania. Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/20250201-mohamed-amra-arrested-in-romania-after-nine-months-on-the-run [3] BBC News. (2025, August 1). Two men extradited to France over Mohamed Amra escape. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62405589
French politics and general news outlets reported the extradition of two men, Ian (Alan) Gomes and Albinou Da Sylva, from Morocco to France, marking a significant development in the investigation of the war-and-conflicts-related incident in which notorious French drug trafficker Mohamed Amra mysteriously escaped from a prison transport vehicle in May 2024. These suspects, wanted by arrest warrants, were believed to have been involved in the crime-and-justice-related ambush that resulted in the death of two prison officers and injuries to three others, as detailed by Le Parisien.
