Since the jewel theft on October 19, the Louvre museum, the most visited in the world, has suffered a series of problems that have highlighted its weaknesses, both structural and management. The latest has been the discovery of “large-scale” ticket and tourist guide fraud that the museum itself detected.
Nine people have been arrested, including two museum employees, tourist guides and a person “suspected of having organized the network”, as reported by the Paris Prosecutor’s Office, which has estimated the damage to the Louvre at more than “10 million euros”. This network of selling fake tickets and overselling guided tours was aimed primarily at Chinese tourists, according to Le Parisien.
Three vehicles, 130,000 euros in cash and almost 200,000 euros in bank accounts have also been seized.
The operation was carried out after a report from the Louvre itself “as part of its anti-fraud policy and after ongoing conversations between museum staff and the Police about fraudulent practices,” the entity said.
In addition to the arrests, according to a police source cited by the same media, three vehicles, 130,000 euros in cash, almost 200,000 euros in bank accounts and several bank safe deposit boxes with the same amount of cash inside have also been seized.
This operation has caused the Museum’s management to carry out a structured anti-fraud plan, with measures such as “fraud mapping, corrective measures (legal, technical and control) and monitoring of results,” according to the entity’s statement.
A second flood in recent months
Added to this is the closure of several rooms after a new flood caused by a burst pipe. It is the second incident of this type in recent months and has affected the ‘Square Room’, where the collections of pre-classical Greece are located. As a precaution, other rooms have also been closed to the public.
The previous flood affected hundreds of ancient books, while damage to the beams in the Campana gallery forced the partial closure of the place. We must also not forget that the museum has closed for several days since 2026 began due to the staff strike in protest against their working conditions and those of the establishment. All this has aggravated his reputational crisis.
