An investigation by the Nanterre prosecutor's office has uncovered a criminal organization that targeted entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. At its head was not an experienced criminal, but, incredibly, an 18-year-old boy: Clément L. Already detained in Villepinte prison for serious crimes, he continued to give orders from his cell via smartphone and Snapchat, taunting security checks. Among the names present on his devices was that of Kylian Mbappé, a sensitive target for whom a kidnapping for extortion was also being planned.
Mbappé also among the VIP names on the juvenile boss's list
A story that borders on the unbelievable and that simultaneously highlights the unquestionable investigative skills of the French gendarmerie, but also the huge gaps in the penitentiary system. Investigators found two phones in the young criminal's cell and inside them they found 26 addresses of possible victims. Alongside entrepreneurs, jewelers and a Turkish meat wholesaler, the French Real Madrid footballer also appeared.
According to judicial sources, Mbappé was considered a particularly interesting target for his wealth, in addition to his fame. The project, still in its initial stages, envisaged not only a possible robbery attempt, but also a kidnapping for extortion, to be carried out during one of his visits to Paris. In the end, fortunately, nothing was carried out, leaving only the criminal intentions on paper. The same list of the juvenile criminal also included a French rapper and other wealthy businessmen: all targets selected for their high economic profile, although many of the plans were never realized.
How the investigation that led to the destruction of the gang began
The investigation began in April with a simple robbery of a watchmaker in Neuilly-sur-Seine, from whom items worth over 150,000 euros were stolen. Through fingerprints and the car used for the escape, the police reached an accomplice and then the mastermind. A boy, Clément L., an 18-year-old Franco-Swiss, also known by the pseudonym “Lester Z”, who directed the operations from the Villepinte prison, exploiting obvious gaps in the control system. Investigators linked him to several apartment burglaries and kidnapping plans carried out or prepared between April and August, and on August 21 he was sent to stand trial in Nanterre for organized robbery. During interrogations he tried to minimize his role, presenting himself as a simple intermediary, but in the end he surrendered, in tears, during questioning.
The operation thus interrupted preparations for new crimes by the gang led by the juvenile boss, in a story almost like a Hollywood script and which, only thanks to a series of coincidences and relentless investigations, did not lead to any harm to Mbappé. In the end, the French star was unaware of anything and was never in any concrete danger.
