A Chinese-born woman has been formally charged in connection with the audacious theft of six gold nuggets, valued at approximately 1.5 million euros ($1.75 million), from the Museum of Natural History in Paris last month, according to French prosecutors. The suspect was apprehended in Barcelona while attempting to dispose of melted gold and is currently in pre-trial detention. The museum, renowned for its extensive collections of stuffed animals and bones, houses a mineralogy gallery where the stolen gold was displayed. Investigators discovered an angle-grinder and a blowtorch at the crime scene, suggesting the use of sophisticated tools. Reports indicate that the museum’s alarm and surveillance systems were disabled by a cyberattack, which the thieves allegedly exploited. A museum spokesperson revealed to Le Figaro that the perpetrators were highly experienced and well-informed, taking advantage of a security vulnerability overlooked in the 2024 audit. The break-in was discovered by cleaners arriving before dawn at the museum, which is affiliated with Sorbonne University and located near the Jardin des Plantes in central Paris. The suspect was arrested by Spanish police on September 30 under a European Arrest Warrant and extradited to France the same day. Authorities found her in possession of around one kilogram of melted gold, and investigations are ongoing. It is believed she was preparing to flee to China. Among the stolen items was a 5kg gold nugget originally from Australia, valued at approximately €585,000 at current gold prices. Museum director Emmanuel Skoulios described the thieves as an ‘extremely professional team’ with precise knowledge of their target and access to professional equipment. This incident follows a separate high-profile heist at the Louvre, where thieves stole priceless French crown jewels in a meticulously planned operation lasting less than eight minutes. Experts speculate that the stolen items may be dismantled and sold for a fraction of their value. Dutch art detective Arthur Brand noted that the perpetrators are likely experienced criminals who have carried out similar burglaries in the past. Recent months have seen at least four French museums targeted by thieves, raising concerns about the security of cultural institutions in the country.