A major Louvre ticket-fraud case has sparked action, with nine people detained in connection with an investigation that spans roughly a decade and involves about €10 million (roughly US$11.8 million). The Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Thursday that these arrests were made on Tuesday as part of a judicial probe that began after the Louvre filed a formal complaint in December 2024.
Officials estimate the museum’s losses over the ten-year period exceed €10 million. The individuals in custody include two Louvre staff members, several tour guides, and one person identified as the alleged mastermind behind the scheme, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Authorities say the Louvre flagged suspicious activity surrounding two Chinese tour guides who repeatedly led groups of Chinese tourists through the museum by fraudulently reusing the same tickets for multiple visitors. Subsequent investigations uncovered similar practices among other guides, expanding the scope of the alleged scam.
