French police have dismantled a "large-scale" ticket fraud network at the Louvre in Paris, the museum said Thursday, while a source following the case said two staff had been arrested.
The operation took place on Tuesday following "a report from the Louvre museum", a spokeswoman for the world-famous institution told AFP.
"Based on the information available to the museum, we suspect the existence of a network organizing large-scale fraud," she added.
She said the world's most visited museum was facing "a rise and diversification in ticketing fraud" and has, in response, implemented a "structured" anti-fraud plan in cooperation with its staff and the police.
According to a source following the case, the suspected fraud scheme was launched in the summer of 2024.
French daily Le Parisien said nine people were arrested, including two museum employees and two tour guides. The Chinese community was believed to be particularly targeted by the scam, the newspaper said.
Louvre bosses have been under huge pressure after four thieves carried out a brazen robbery in October, making off with jewelry worth an estimated $102 million.
Authorities have arrested all four alleged members of the heist crew but have not found the stolen jewels.
In recent months trade unions have launched several days of strikes at the Louvre, pressing for more recruitment, more pay and better maintenance of the vast former royal palace.
