Nine Indicted in Decade-Long Louvre Ticket Fraud

French authorities have indicted nine individuals, including two Louvre Museum employees and several tour guides, in a decade-long ticket fraud scheme that cost the world's most visited art institution more than 10 million euros, the Paris public prosecutor's office announced Thursday.

The arrests occurred on Tuesday as part of a judicial investigation launched in June 2024, following a complaint filed by the Louvre in December of that year. Prosecutors estimate the operation, which primarily targeted groups of Chinese tourists, defrauded the museum through the repeated reuse of entry tickets and evasion of required fees. One suspect remains in custody, charged with organized fraud, use of forged documents, aiding illegal entry and movement of foreigners in an organized group, active corruption, aggravated money laundering, and participation in a criminal association. The other eight were indicted on similar charges but released under judicial supervision.

According to the prosecutor's office, the scheme involved tour guides bringing in up to 20 groups per day over the past 10 years. Investigators uncovered evidence through surveillance and wiretaps showing guides splitting...