Police seize suspect dubbed 'Old Omar' after 'his finger prints were found on Kim Kardashian's wrist ties' as Marceau 'the gypsy' and 'Broken Nose' are also held over Paris heist 

  • Kardashian, 36, was tied up and robbed at gunpoint in apartment in Paris, France
  • Police have arrested 17 people in the Paris region over the October 3 robbery 
  • One is said to be a 'grandad gangster' linked to Medellin drugs cartel
  • Police confirmed her chauffeur was among the 17 who were arrested
  • Limo company owner Michael Madar was held as part of the raids on Monday
  • Founder of Unic Worldpass, is trusted driver for Kardashians when in Paris
  • He was released just after midnight while his brother Gary remains in custody 
  • Source said Michael Madar was 'speechless' to learn his brother was arrested 

Further details of the gang that held up Kim Kardashian in the terrifying jewel heist in Paris have emerged.

The thieves are said to include a man known as Omar le Vieux – Old Omar – as well as his two sons aged 23 and 29, according to Le Parisien newspaper.

Old Omar was dragged from his bed in Creteil – a rough suburb in south-east Paris, in the early hours of Monday morning by officers from France’s organised crime brigade (BRB).

The 60-year-old's fingerprints are said to have been found on plastic ties used to bind Ms Kardashian’s hands during the extraordinary robbery at an exclusive hotel in central Paris in October last year.  

Police arrested 17 people over the robbery on Monday morning, including two brothers in their 50s accused of disposing of a $4m engagement ring
A man is pictured being arrested during raids yesterday

Arrests: Further details of the gang that held up Kim Kardashian in the terrifying jewel heist in Paris have emerged. The thieves are said to include a man known as Omar le Vieux – Old Omar – as well has his two sons aged 23 and 29, according to Le Parisien newspaper. Police arrested 17 people over the robbery, including two brothers in their 50s accused of disposing of a $5m engagement ring. Two men are pictured being arrested during raids on Monday

Reliable: Reality star Kim pictured in Paris on October 1 last year had her wrists tied by the gang during her terrible ordeal in which £8.5million worth of jewellry was stolen

Reliable: Reality star Kim pictured in Paris on October 1 last year had her wrists tied by the gang during her terrible ordeal in which £8.5million worth of jewellry was stolen

Raids: Special French investigators swooped on a restaurant in Rue de Bretagne in connection with the robbery of Kardashian, which happened during Paris fashion week in October

Raids: Special French investigators swooped on a restaurant in Rue de Bretagne in connection with the robbery of Kardashian, which happened during Paris fashion week in October

The elite BRB detectives brought in two allegedly seasoned criminals – aged 60 and 63 – who have so far used their right to silence and refused to answer any questions, the popular French newspaper reported.

Investigators have also pulled in ‘former associates’ of Old Omar for questioning.

These include a 64-year-old gypsy named only as Marceau.

Another member of the alleged gang is a man known as Nez Râpé, 'Broken Nose', who was responsible for a series of terrifying motorway robberies.

KIM 'WILL NOT GET JEWELS BACK' 

Kim Kardashian has been warned by authorities in Paris that she will not get her $4million engagement ring back, according toTMZ.  

Police have apparently told her legal team that most diamonds the size of Kim's are immediately shipped off to Antwerp's diamond district in Belgium and then quickly disappear.

Kim submitted an insurance claim after the robbery listing her 20 carat emerald cut stone diamond ring at $4 million -- in total, 13 items totaling $5.6 million were stolen.  

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'Broken Nose' was part of a gang that posed as policemen to pull over and rob at gun-point the owners of luxury cars of travelling on the country’s A5 and A6 motorways from Paris to the south of France of their jewellery.

As gang-leader, 'Broken Nose' was sentenced to 30 months in jail after he was captured in December 2008.

For his part, Marceau was taken to court in June last year accused of the sale of forged 20 Euro notes and the sale of stolen jewellery and gold in Antwerp, Belgium. He was however acquitted following a trial.  

BRB officers recovered almost Euro 300,000 in cash from the homes of the various suspects following their dawn raids on Monday morning, Le Parisien reported.

The operation included the search for a 72-year-old man, known as Pierre, at his home in Grasse, in the mountains overlooking the French riveria.

Pierre, who ran a private beach club in Saint Tropez, was jailed in the early 2000’s for drug trafficking.

Date night: Kim and rapper husband Kanye, pictured, appeared to brush off the raid in Paris to go on a date to a sushi restaurant in Beverly Hills on Monday night

Date night: Kim and rapper husband Kanye, pictured, appeared to brush off the raid in Paris to go on a date to a sushi restaurant in Beverly Hills on Monday night

Police swoop: 17 were arrested in a series of raids in Paris connected to the October heist, but the couple shrugged off the drama with a low key night out together

Police swoop: 17 were arrested in a series of raids in Paris connected to the October heist, but the couple shrugged off the drama with a low key night out together

Unity: Kim linked arms with her husband Kanye as they enjoyed a quiet night out together on the same day as a series of arrests were made in Paris

Unity: Kim linked arms with her husband Kanye as they enjoyed a quiet night out together on the same day as a series of arrests were made in Paris

Pierre, 72, and his 70-year-old long term partner Christiane, are currently being held in custody in Paris.

Another suspect is reportedly Didier Dubreucq, who was convicted to eight and a half years in prison in in 2003 for his role in a drug smuggling ring involving Saudi Prince Nayef Bin Fawaz al-Shaalan, the Telegraph reports.  

Dubreucq, nicknamed 'Blue Eyes', is said to be in his sixties.  

The prince was convicted of smuggling 1,980 kilograms (4,400 pounds) of cocaine on his private jet in 1999 and was accused of having links to Colombia's Medellin cartel.

The drugs were flown from Venezuela to France and Dubreucq was convicted of receiving them at Le Bourget airport in Paris.

'In this case, the drug traffickers used powerful people to create a facade of legitimacy to help them conceal their drug trafficking activities,' Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said in a statement about the prince's conviction in 2005. 

Two of the other 17 people arrested in dawn raids on Monday - an unnamed man and woman - have also been released without charge, according to Le Figaro newspaper.  

Details of those being held have emerged as the limo company owner arrested by French police investigating the robbery has been released - but his brother remains in police custody.

Michael Madar and his brother Gary were arrested in a series of raids on Monday morning. 

Madar, 40, is the owner of Unic Worldpass, the chauffeur company used by Kim Kardashian and her family in Paris while his brother Gary, 27, worked for the firm on and off.

Michael Madar was released from police custody in Paris without charges shortly after midnight, a source close to the investigation has confirmed. He was 'speechless' to learn that his brother had also been held, the source said.

A DNA match from the necklace, along with tape used to gag Ms Kardashian, enabled detectives to trace key members of the gang and 17 were arrested in a series of raids 

A DNA match from the necklace, along with tape used to gag Ms Kardashian, enabled detectives to trace key members of the gang and 17 were arrested in a series of raids 

French police arrested 17 people in connection with the £8.5million robbery in October on Monday

French police yesterday arrested 17 people in connection with the £8.5million robbery in October

Reality star Kim, 36, was woken at 2.35am on October 3 as she slept in her luxury Paris apartment

Reality star Kim, 36, was woken at 2.35am on October 3 as she slept in her luxury Paris apartment

Kim posted this image of her engagement ring on Instagram before it was stolen in the robbery

Bling: Kim posted this image of the stolen £3.5m ring on Instagram before the robbery

The source told MailOnline: ‘Michael has taken the news really badly. Michael had no idea that Gary had somehow become involved.

‘He was speechless when he learned his brother had been arrested,’ the source told MailOnline. 

Investigators have been given 96 hours – four days - to interview the suspects.   

Friends of Mr Madar had expressed shock at his arrest, while AP said officials in France were 'unsure' which brother chauffeured the reality TV star the night she was robbed in a rented apartment in the French capital. 

Trusted: Michael Madar, pictured above holding an umbrella just days before the raid in October last year, was arrested on his home on Monday morning – one of 17 people detained by police’s organised crime brigade in the Paris area and the south of France

Businessman: Michael Madar was arrested on his home on Monday morning – one of 17 people detained by police's organised crime brigade in the Paris area and the south of France. Pictured: Madar holding an umbrella for Kim and Kourtney days before the robbery in Paris in October last year

Arrested: Gary Madar, pictured with Kim Kardashian, was held alongside his chauffeur firm boss brother Michael, 40

Arrested: Gary Madar, pictured with Kim Kardashian, was held alongside his chauffeur firm boss brother Michael, 40

Close: The brothers, Michael and Gary pictured left with Michael's wife Carole Scigliano, chief executive of his company Unic Worldpass are being held over the £10million raid in October

Close: The brothers, Michael and Gary pictured left with Michael's wife Carole Scigliano, chief executive of his company Unic Worldpass

One friend said: 'This is very strange. Michael is a really sweet guy. I would not be surprised if the police had got this one wrong.' 

It is understood that Mr Madar was taken to a police station for interview yesterday morning where he was then arrested.   

The arrested men are aged mostly in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

Pierre B - the 72-year-old alleged ringleader - was arrested after officers broke down the gate of his villa in Plascassier, a village near Grasse, in the south of France.

The age of the suspects has echoes of the 2015 Hatton Garden safe deposit robbery in London – carried out by a team of veteran British criminals.

A police source said: 'The oldest suspect is 72, while others are in their 50s and 60s and some are well known to the police.'

Multiple firearms, including an automatic pistol, and £121,000 in cash were found during the raids that took place across Paris on Monday morning

Multiple firearms, including an automatic pistol, and £121,000 in cash were found during the raids that took place across Paris on Monday morning

One of five men suspected of taking part in the armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris has been charged

One of those arrested is the chauffeur with the limo firm used by the Kardashian family in Paris, raising the possibility that the crime could have been an inside job

French police are seen carrying bags of evidence after carrying out a dawn raid in Paris

French police are seen carrying bags of evidence after carrying out a dawn raid in Paris

 The reality TV star had a gun pointed at her, her hands and feet bound with cable ties and was left in the bath after masked men with police badges on their jackets burst into her room at a hotel in the city's exclusive 8th arrondissement.

Ms Kardashian, the world's highest paid reality television star, was alone because her bodyguard, Pascal Duvier, was out at a nightclub with her sisters.

But three months since the heist, the gang – including 'career villain' Pierre B – are thought to have been rounded up.

All those arrested can be held for up to 96 hours before being charged or released.

Barrister Jean Veil said his 36-year-old client had been left deeply traumatised after being bound, gagged and threatened with death in the French capital last October. 

Coordinated raids at 6am saw a total of 16 men including a 'major thug' arrested in the city, and also in the south of France

Coordinated raids at 6am saw a total of 16 men including a 'major thug' arrested in the city, and also in the south of France

The arrests come three months after the reality TV star was tied up and robbed at gunpoint by intruders at her luxury Paris flat

The arrests come three months after the reality TV star was tied up and robbed at gunpoint by intruders at her luxury Paris flat

'I welcome this with great satisfaction,' said Mr Veil, who said he was due to discuss details of the raids with Ms Kardashian when she woke up in Los Angeles last night.

'These arrests are a nice surprise because on the one hand, it will perhaps make it possible to find the jewellery,' said Mr Veil.

'On the other hand, it puts an end to the outrageous speculation by some, who thought it was intelligent to pretend that this robbery was staged, or a publicity stunt organised by Ms Kardashian.'

Mr Veil indicated that Ms Kardashian would look forward 'putting her nose up' at those who had doubted her word.

During recent conversations, Mr Veil said Ms Kardashian 'still showed some form of anxiety. I think she was recently shocked and had the opportunity to say so on television.  

Bags from the raids were taken away by police yesterday and 17 people were arrested in total 

Bags from the raids were taken away by police yesterday and 17 people were arrested in total 

The suspects' homes are still being searched, with documents and other potential evidence being seized. A suspect (right) is pictured being escorted to a police station

'The money she lost during this robbery is not the only issue. Even though my client was not injured, this assault was very brutal and traumatic. Imagine yourself alone, at night, in front of armed people.'

Earlier this month, Ms Kardashian broke her silence on the robbery in a teaser for the family's reality show, telling two of her sisters her thoughts at the time: 'They're going to shoot me in the back. There's no way out. It makes me so upset to think about it.' 

It has also emerged that French police have failed to call on the key witness in the case – because the authorities will not grant him a temporary visa to enter France.

Abdulrahman, the Algerian concierge who was tied up and forced to give the robbers access to the reality star's apartment, left France in November to recover from the stress of the experience.

A handcuffed man was seen being led in to a police station in Paris following the raids yesterday

Raids are also underway at other key premises, including a jewellery shop in the centre of Paris. Police are pictured bringing a suspect into custody in Paris

Raids are also underway at other key premises, including a jewellery shop in the centre of Paris. Police are pictured bringing a suspect into custody in Paris

Currently in Algeria, Abdulrahman, 39, is thought to be the only person to have clearly seen the intruders' faces, and to have had prolonged conversations with them on the night of the crime.

So far, however, investigators have not contacted him to identify the suspects, and his attempts to enter France to be available to police have been rejected, MailOnline can reveal.

He told MailOnline: 'Before leaving France, the judge in charge of this case told my lawyers that I should renew my residence permit so I can travel quickly for the investigation purposes.

'Last week, I was in Paris to receive a letter from 'le prefet de Police' but he refused my request.'

He added: 'It is so crazy.' 

A suspect in Kim Kardashian West's Paris robbery is brought to BRB building, Brigade de Repression du Banditisme (suppression of banditry brigade), by police

A suspect in Kim Kardashian West's Paris robbery is brought to BRB building, Brigade de Repression du Banditisme (suppression of banditry brigade), by police

Seventeen alleged veteran armed robbers - aged mostly between 50 and 72 - were arrested last month in relation to the jewelry heist 

The suspects that police have held are accused of breaking into the reality TV star's Paris apartment block last October

The accused men are suspected of stealing millions of pounds worth of jewellery

The accused men are suspected of stealing millions of pounds worth of jewellery

Sources say that 'months of surveillance' has taken place, including phone taps. A suspect is pictured being taken to a police station in Paris

Sources say that 'months of surveillance' has taken place, including phone taps. A suspect is pictured being taken to a police station in Paris

Abdulrahman's lawyer, Henri de Beauregard, told MailOnline: 'He had a visa that expired in November, and when he applied for a new one, he was refused.

'He doesn't want to stay in France for long, he just wants to come and be available for the investigation and help the police. It is important for justice and important for him.

'A victim is a victim. He is no less a victim than Kim – he has a right to face his aggressor.

'I don't know if this is incompetence or just a bad decision. He is the best witness, he saw the criminals much longer than Miss Kardashian. I hope the police have a lot of solid proof and evidence, because if they don't, it will be seen as a crazy decision.' 

French police have arrested 16 people over the robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris, it has emerged

French police have arrested 17 people over the robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris, it has emerged

One theory is that many of Ms Kardashian's jewels ended up in Antwerp – the diamond capital of Europe and a police operation was carried out in the Belgian city today (pictured)

One theory is that many of Ms Kardashian's jewels ended up in Antwerp – the diamond capital of Europe and a police operation was carried out in the Belgian city today (pictured)

Belgium police are known to be involved in the investigation, and are carrying out checks in a number of businesses in Antwerp

Belgium police are known to be involved in the investigation, and are carrying out checks in a number of businesses in Antwerp

Kim Kardashian returned to social media this month and was on Snapchat for a make-up tutorial in Dubai

Kim Kardashian returned to social media this month and was on Snapchat for a make-up tutorial in Dubai

The gang escaped on 'velibs' - hire bicycles which can be rented all over Paris - but one of them dropped a diamond pendant worth around £28,000 in the street outside.

It was found by a woman who handed it in to police, as grainy CCTV of the men on bikes also emerged.

Police said the butter-fingered thief who lost the necklace had effectively led them to the entire group of suspects. 

A DNA match from the necklace, along with tape used to gag Ms Kardashian, enabled detectives to trace key members of the gang. 

A surveillance operation then led detectives to the other suspects, including jewel dealers thought to have been involved in fencing the stolen gems. 

Just an hour before the robbery, Kim posted a video on Snapchat that showed her wearing the engagement ring (left) 

Just an hour before the robbery, Kim posted a video on Snapchat that showed her wearing the engagement ring (left) 

The multimillionaire, who was in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week, was locked in a bathroom while robbers stole a $4.5 million ring and a case of jewellery valued at $5.6 million

Forensics material found in a Paris hotel matched that of a well-known convicted armed robber described as a 'major thug'.

A suspected 'Mr Big' has been partially identified as Pierre B, a 72-year-old 'career villain' from the south of France who made millions through counterfeit money.

Others arrested include two diamond dealers and three women – some of whom are suspected of trailing Ms Kardashian around Paris before the robbery. They can be held for up to 96 hours before being charged or released.   

Homes were still being searched on Monday, documents and other potential evidence being seized.

Raids were also underway at other key premises, including a jewellery shop in the centre of Paris.

A source confirmed that 'months of surveillance' had taken place, including phone taps.

Spending patterns have been looked at, and attempts to re-sell the jewellery stolen in October.