After last year’s theft, arrests were made again at the Louvre on Thursday.Image: keystone
Feb 12, 2026, 8:17 p.mFeb 12, 2026, 8:21 p.m
The Paris justice system has arrested nine people and confiscated over 1.4 million euros on suspicion of a large-scale fraud involving tickets to the famous Louvre museum. Those arrested included tourist guides, two Louvre employees and a person suspected of organizing the network, prosecutors said.
According to the authorities, the arrests took place on Tuesday. The suspects are scheduled to be brought before the magistrate on Friday. According to investigators, the fraud is said to have lasted for over ten years. The Louvre estimates the damage caused at over ten million euros. The suspects are said to have invested some of the sum in real estate in both France and Dubai, according to the public prosecutor’s office. Investigations into possible ticket fraud also took place at the Palace of Versailles.
Museum employees are said to have helped fraudsters. The museum itself raised the alarm with the police at the end of 2024 because it suspected the existence of a network that was organizing large-scale fraud. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the fraudsters are said to have organized group tours that exceeded the maximum number of people allowed and charged excessive prices for the additional participants – outside of the official ticket sales and for their own profit. They are also said to have used tickets multiple times and sold false tickets. Museum employees are said to have received money for not controlling the groups.
In order to catch the alleged fraud ring, the investigators used surveillance measures and wiretapping, explained the public prosecutor’s office. In addition to the arrests, more than 957,000 euros in cash were confiscated in raids, including 67,000 euros in foreign currency, as well as 486,000 euros in various bank accounts. Louvre wants to control more strictly The museum has initiated a plan to combat fraud that includes stricter controls and technical measures, a Louvre spokeswoman told the German Press Agency.
The case follows several recent incidents at the Louvre. In October there was a spectacular break-in in which eight crown jewels worth 88 million euros were stolen. In November a gallery had to be closed due to technical damage. (sda/dpa)