French police have detained nine suspects over a €10 million (£8.7 million) ticket fraud at the Louvre museum in Paris. Two Louvre staff members were among those arrested, along with several tour guides and a suspected mastermind. A museum spokesperson told Agence France-Presse, “Based on the information available to the museum, we suspect the existence of a network organising large-scale fraud.” The fraud reportedly involved tour guides who targeted Chinese visitors by reusing the same tickets for different people multiple times. Investigations suggest up to 20 tour groups a day may have been brought in through this scam over the past ten years. The Paris prosecutors’ office said surveillance and wiretaps showed repeated ticket reuse and a strategy to split tour groups to avoid paying a “speaking fee” required for guides. Some guides allegedly bribed Louvre staff to avoid ticket checks. A formal judicial investigation began last June on charges of organised fraud, money laundering, corruption, and forged documents. Authorities seized over €957,000 in cash and €486,000 from bank accounts. Suspects are believed to have invested in real estate in France and Dubai. This fraud scandal adds to recent troubles at the Louvre following a daring €88 million jewel heist in October. Meanwhile, union strikes have protested staffing shortfalls and ticket price hikes affecting most non-EU visitors, including British, American, and Chinese tourists.