The investigation is reportedly focusing in particular on a luxury real estate project in Marrakech led by Gims, called “Sunset Village Private Residences.” The project includes the construction of 117 high-end villas around an artificial lagoon, with a potential turnover estimated at €100 million.
The singer, whose real name is Gandhi Djuna, was taken into custody on Wednesday as part of an investigation into organized money laundering, according to the French National Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (Pnaco).
He was reportedly stopped upon arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on March 25 while going through customs. According to information revealed by Africa Intelligence, the case involves an international money laundering network using shell companies to commit VAT fraud, issue fake invoices, and conceal the origin of illicit funds.
His lawyer, David-Olivier Kaminski, has not commented for the time being.
The report adds that Gims’ name appears in an investigation conducted by French authorities involving a network of companies set up in multiple countries to bypass VAT and other French taxes, facilitate the issuance of false invoices, launder money from illegal activities, and conceal its origin.
The outlet also states that “five former drug traffickers from the Île-de-France region who turned to financial crime” have already been implicated in the case.
Media reports further indicate that investigators are also examining a large-scale luxury real estate project promoted by Gims in Marrakech, one of the cities where he resides.
