An influential figure in the bodybuilding and social media world, once celebrated as a “motocross legend,” has emerged as a key suspect in what is being dubbed the heist of the century at the Louvre Museum.
Abdoulaye N., aged 39 and popularly known by his alias ‘Doudou Cross Bitume,’ was apprehended on October 29. He now faces preliminary charges related to theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.
Authorities suspect that Abdoulaye was one of two individuals who ingeniously used a cherry picker to infiltrate the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery on October 19, making off with the French Crown Jewels, collectively valued at a staggering £76 million. The jewels remain missing.
It has recently come to light that Abdoulaye hails from Aubervilliers and is a prominent figure in the urban motocross community.
Gaining fame online as “The Motocross Legend,” he originally captured the spotlight in the late 2000s through viral YouTube and Dailymotion videos. These clips showcased his daring stunts and lengthy rides from his neighborhood to iconic Parisian sites like the Champs-Élysées and the Trocadéro.
His catchphrase, “Always closer to the asphalt,” resonated with a youthful audience, securing his popularity among fans.
More recently, he has made a presence on TikTok and had turned his focus to street workouts and motorcycle lessons for local youths.
However, his social media accounts have been inactive since late September.
One of the suspects in the £76m Louvre heist has allegedly been unmasked as a daredevil who built a cult following online with reckless motocross bike rides through Paris
Abdoulaye N., 39, nicknamed ‘Doudou Cross Bitume’, was arrested on October 29 and faces preliminary charges of theft by an organised gang and criminal conspiracy
Abdoulaye’s TikTok is littered with videos of him performing pull–ups and acrobatics on outdoor gym equipment
During questioning by the Paris Anti–Gang Brigade (BRB), Abdoulaye reportedly appeared overwhelmed by the case’s scale.
After initially remaining silent, he admitted taking part in the robbery, claiming he had acted under orders from unidentified individuals.
His alleged accomplice, Ayed G., gave a similar version, referring to an unnamed foreign mastermind.
Both men made statements that surprised investigators – one claiming he did not realise the building was the Louvre, believing it was ‘near the pyramid’, and the other thinking it was ‘closed and empty’.
Police say genetic traces left at the scene suggest the pair were not experienced criminals but low–level participants in a larger network. Investigators are exploring possible links to organised crime or art trafficking rings.
In total, four suspects are in custody as part of the investigation, including three believed to be members of the team of four that was filmed using a freight lift to reach the museum’s window to gain access.
Abdoulaye is believed to be one of the two thieves who broke into the Apollo Gallery with power tools, cutting into display cases to steal the jewels. His DNA was reportedly found on one of the cases and on items they left behind.
Born in January 1986, Abdoulaye has 15 previous convictions, according to local French media.
His record reportedly includes offences such as drug possession, driving without a license, and resisting arrest.
He was first detained at 16 and served a prison sentence in 2015 for an armed robbery at a jewellery store in Paris’s Barbes district.
At the time, one of his co–defendants was Slimane K., who is also one of the alleged accomplices in the Louvre case.
Slimane is suspected of remaining outside the museum and carrying out the role of getaway driver.
Court documents from previous cases describe Abdoulaye as a man who tried several times to reintegrate into society.
He worked in various short–term jobs, including as a warehouse worker, security guard, and delivery assistant. He is in a long–term relationship and has several children.
He grew up in a large family – his father, a former airport worker, had 23 children across three marriages and later retired to Mali.
Abdoulaye reportedly left school in the eighth grade.
After serving his prison sentence, Abdoulaye worked for temporary agencies and later as an unlicensed taxi driver in weekends.
In 2019, he was investigated for a burglary at a parking company in Aulnay–sous–Bois, but prosecutors later dropped the theft charges.
A suspected thief was filmed as the group raided priceless jewellery that once belonged to Napoleon and his family
Two burglars arrested on suspicion of stealing £76million–worth of jewels from the Louvre were tied to the scene of the crime thanks to hair strands found in a helmet and high–viz jacket
It comes as a French court on Wednesday postponed the trial of Abdoulaye in a different case due to media attention and other issues that may impede the fairness of the proceedings.
A court in Bobigny, north of Paris, said the suspect’s trial on charges of damaging public property will take place in April.
His four lawyers said the highly publicised Louvre robbery did not allow them to properly prepare for the trial.
Maxime Cavaillé, one of the lawyers, told reporters: ‘We’ll be extremely vigilant about several points, first of all the respect of the presumption of innocence– and the respect of (judicial) proceedings.’
Cavaillé said the lawyers will make sure the ‘privacy’ of their client is respected despite the ‘extraordinary nature’ of the Louvre case. They declined to provide further details.
The prosecutor agreed the case must be judged in ‘serene conditions’ that were not met Wednesday due to ‘mediatisation and recent events.’
