Gims Detained at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
On March 25, 2026, Gims, the celebrated francophone artist, was apprehended at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport around noon. His detention was executed under the orders of Parisian investigative judges as part of a significant money laundering investigation. This initiative, confirmed by local reports, is being led by the National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (Pnaco) and involves a comprehensive probe into a vast money laundering network.
Gims, whose real name is Gandhi Djuna, is not only a prominent figure in the music industry but also was the top-selling artist in France in 2025. As he was exiting his flight, he was stopped by the national judicial customs service and subsequently placed in police custody, raising eyebrows across the entertainment and legal communities.
Focus on Luxury Real Estate Investments
Central to the investigation is Gims' involvement in a luxury real estate project in Marrakech, known as "Sunset Village Private Residences." This ambitious development aims to construct 117 lavish villas surrounding an artificial lagoon, with potential revenues estimated at €100 million. The inquiry, which was sparked by a note from Tracfin last year, is delving into the funding channels of various entities associated with this project. Notably, it is scrutinizing the company "Horizon Development," responsible for the project's execution, which has ties to Lahoucine Aourik Soussi, a Franco-Moroccan businessman under investigation for the source of his assets and the financial mechanisms supporting his business operations.
Gims, born in Kinshasa and alternating his residence between Marrakech and Dubai, holds Congolese nationality and is known to have close ties with Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, who appointed him and his brother, fellow artist Dadju, as cultural ambassadors of the Democratic Republic of Congo, granting them diplomatic passports.
As reported by leparisien.fr.
