A major financial fraud investigation has rocked Louvre Museum after French authorities arrested 9 individuals, including 2 museum employees, over an alleged long-running ticket scam. Prosecutors claim the scheme cost the Paris landmark more than €10 million, approximately ₹1,073 crore, over the past decade. The investigation began in late 2024 after the museum flagged suspicious ticketing patterns and filed a formal complaint.
According to investigators, the fraud ring reused and falsified single-entry tickets to admit multiple tourist groups without proper payment. Officials say tour guides took advantage of heavy tourist crowds to avoid detection. Large visitor groups were allegedly split into smaller batches and valid tickets were reused several times in a single day. In some cases, up to 20 groups were reportedly granted entry using manipulated passes. Authorities believe certain internal staff members facilitated the scheme in exchange for cash bribes, allowing guides to bypass inspection checks.
During coordinated raids, officials seized €957,000 in cash, approximately ₹10.27 crore and froze €486,000 in bank accounts, roughly ₹5.22 crore, linked to the suspects. Investigators are now tracing the money trail, examining possible investments in domestic and overseas real estate to determine whether the alleged fraud proceeds were laundered through property deals. The scale of the financial loss has raised serious questions about internal oversight and revenue protection systems at 1 of the world’s most visited museums.
The 9 suspects face charges including organised gang fraud, use of forged administrative documents, corruption, aggravated money laundering and facilitating illegal entry within a criminal network. 1 suspect remains in pre-trial detention, while others are under judicial supervision. Authorities are also reviewing whether similar methods were used at other French heritage sites, including the Palace of Versailles. The case comes amid broader scrutiny of the Louvre, which has faced operational and security concerns following previous high-value theft cases reportedly exceeding €80 million, around ₹8,588 crore. Prosecutors confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with further forensic audits and financial tracing expected in the coming weeks.
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