Pepe le Moko is a notorious jewel thief who has escaped from
France and has settled in the
Casbah, or "native quarter", of
Algeria for two years. Commissioner Janvier, a French police detective, is determined to capture Pepe. One night, Janvier leads a raid on the Casbah, where Regis, a thief who is jealous of Pepe, leads the detectives to Grandpere. Regis goes to Ines, Pepe's mistress, to warn him that the police are arriving. Ines arrives at Grandpere's house to warn Pepe, to which he suspects Regis of informing the police. When the police arrive, Pepe hides in a basement until a shooting breaks out. Pepe escapes although he is injured. During the shooting, Inspector Slimane, an Algerian detective, brings Gaby, a French tourist, into his residence, where Pepe also arrives. While Slimane admires Pepe, he tells Gaby he has written the date of Pepe's arrest on his wall. The next day, Regis meets with Chief Inspector Louvain and schemes to have Pepe's friend Pierrot arrested, in hopes to capture Pepe. Regis delivers a letter to Pierrot, purportedly written by his mother, to state she is ill. Meanwhile, Gaby has been thinking about Pepe, despite being engaged to her fiancé Giraux. While dining, Slimane tells Gaby about Pepe's adoration for jewelry, and arranges to have her see Pepe again. Later that night, Pepe is informed that Pierrot has left Algiers. Pepe arrives at the Casbah, and questions Regis about Pierrot's disappearance. While Regis sweats over his fate, Pepe reunites with Gaby at the Casbah, where they relate to their time in France. Despite Gaby's engagement, they plan to see each other the next day. An injured Pierrot suddenly arrives, wanting to kill Regis. Pierrot collapses as he tries to shoot Regis, who is then killed by Carlos, one of Pepe's friends. The next day, Pierrot's funeral is held outside the Casbah, which angers a grief-stricken Pepe. Desperate to attend, Pepe rushes out but Ines prevents him by lying that Gaby is waiting for him at his house. Pepe goes to his residence, but despite her lie, he thanks Ines for having him evade a potential trap. Gaby eventually arrives, and while together, Pepe expresses his frustration as he can never escape the Casbah. Before Gaby leaves, they agree to reunite at her hotel tomorrow. Meanwhile, Slimane tells Giraux to have Gaby refrain from seeing Pepe. When that fails, Slimane lies to Gaby, stating Pepe has been killed. Before Pepe leaves to see Gaby at her hotel, he learns from another man named L'Arbi that Gaby and Giraux are leaving Algeria on a steamship that afternoon. As he ignores Ines's warnings, Pepe leaves the Casbah and purchases a steamship ticket. Pepe is onboard and when he sees Gaby, he is arrested by Slimane and his detectives. As Pepe stands on the docks, he rushes towards the ship and calls for Gaby, but she does not see him. One of Slimane's men shoots Pepe and as Slimane cradles his body, he apologizes since the man believed Pepe was trying to escape. Pepe replies, "And so I have, my friend." ==Cast==