Sixteen Romanian police officers involved in the capture of French drug kingpin Mohamed Amra were decorated on Monday by the French authorities during a ceremony hosted by the French Embassy in Bucharest.

'The distinctions represent the recognition of the decisive contribution made by Interior Ministry structures in locating and arresting the internationally wanted offender,' the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.

Attending the ceremony, Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu stressed that the awards honour not only the individual merits of the Romanian officers, but also confirm the strength of Romania - France cooperation in security and the fight against organised crime.

'Rewarding Romanian police officers by the French state is the recognition of the professionalism, courage and efficiency they demonstrated in this operation. It is also the confirmation that the Interior Ministry, through its structures - the Romanian Police and the Romanian Gendarmerie - is a trusted partner in combating organised crime at European level,' Predoiu said.

In his remarks, the minister underscored that the Medal of Honour of the French National Police stands not only for the acknowledgement of an exemplary mission but also for the values that are the hallmark of the policing profession - responsibility, courage and commitment to the law.

Predoiu described the Romania - France relationship as 'an exemplary partnership' built on mutual trust and effective operational cooperation, noting that the successful operation against Amra shows how important European cooperation is in tackling cross-border crime.

Addressing the decorated officers, the minister said the distinctions represent both the recognition of their results and a responsibility for the future.

'The medal you receive today is an individual distinction, but it speaks to the honour of an entire institution. If this is the first major recognition of your activity, take it as a sign that you are on the right path, but also as an obligation to continue with the same integrity, rigour and courage. If it is not the first distinction of your career, then it confirms that you have become a professional and moral benchmark for younger colleagues,' Predoiu said.

He emphasised that the operation to capture Mohamed Amra was 'a real challenge for European police cooperation', made possible through exemplary coordination between Romanian and French authorities and efficient information exchange.

'This result confirms that Romania is a trusted partner in the European security architecture and that it brings real added value to Schengen-area police cooperation, through more relevant information exchange and faster, more effective collaboration,' he underscored.

He went on to say that, in the current security context, threats generated by organised crime transcend national borders and can only be countered through joint action by European states.

In his turn, French Ambassador to Romania Nicolas Warnery praised the decisive contribution of Romanian authorities to Amra's capture and highlighted the excellent level of cooperation between the two countries' law-enforcement institutions.

Mohamed Amra, known as 'The Fly', was tracked and arrested in Romania on February 22, 2025 after a 9-month manhunt, following his spectacular escape in France, during which two prison officers were killed and three seriously injured. He was wanted under three European arrest warrants for escape, murder, drug trafficking and unlawful deprivation of liberty, and was suspected of links to Marseille crime rings and of coordinating assassinations from prison.

His capture was welcomed at the highest level in Paris. The French prime minister said that, after nine months of pursuit, Amra had finally been arrested, and President Emmanuel Macron called the operation 'a tremendous success'.

The ceremony and the distinctions awarded by French authorities represent one of the most significant international recognitions received in recent years by Interior Ministry structures, confirming both their professionalism and the essential role of Romania - France cooperation in strengthening European security. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Alexandru Florea; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)