French police have arrested nine individuals suspected of involvement in a long-running ticket fraud scheme at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing international media outlets, that the sophisticated corruption network has caused financial losses exceeding 10 million euros over the past decade. The arrests were carried out as part of a judicial investigation initiated in December 2024 following a formal complaint lodged by the Louvre administration.
The suspects include two museum employees, several tour guides, and the alleged mastermind of the operation. According to investigators, the fraud involved the systematic reuse of valid tickets for multiple tourist groups. The probe initially focused on two Chinese tour guides who frequently presented previously used tickets to gain entry for their clients. Further investigation revealed that the guides collaborated with internal staff members who accepted cash bribes to bypass security checks. The official inquiry, which escalated in June 2025, includes allegations of organized fraud, money laundering, corruption, and the use of forged documents.
The Louvre, recognized as the world's most visited museum, attracts millions of visitors annually, making its ticketing infrastructure a high-value target for financial exploitation. Prosecutors noted that the criminal network was capable of processing up to 20 tour groups per day through these illicit means. Authorities have also indicated that similar fraudulent schemes may be operating at the Palace of Versailles, though specific details regarding that branch of the investigation have not yet been disclosed. This case underscores the increasing necessity for global cultural institutions to implement more rigorous digital verification systems to combat internal and external corruption.
