Congolese-born rapper Gims, one of the most commercially successful artists in French music, has been arrested in Paris as part of a sweeping investigation into an alleged international money laundering network.

The performer, whose real name is Gandhi Djuna, was detained by officers from the National Judicial Customs Service upon landing at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, according to reports citing investigative sources. He was taken into custody for questioning under the authority of specialist financial crime judges in Paris.

Judicial investigators are said to be probing a sophisticated scheme built around a web of shell companies registered in several countries. These entities are suspected of being used to evade French taxes, generate false invoices, recycle proceeds from illegal activities, and disguise the true origin of substantial funds.

At the heart of the inquiry is a luxury real estate venture in Marrakech that Gims has publicly promoted in recent years. Investigators are examining whether that project may have served as a vehicle for laundering money, and whether any of the funds invested can be traced back to criminal activity.

Five former drug traffickers from the Paris region, now allegedly active in white-collar financial crime, have already been implicated in the same case. Authorities are working to determine the nature of their links, if any, to the artist and to the companies under scrutiny.

No formal charges against Gims had been announced by officials at the time of reporting, and the presumption of innocence applies. His representatives have not publicly commented on the arrest or the details of the investigation.

The case has sent shockwaves through the French music industry. Born in Kinshasa and raised in France, Gims rose from the Paris rap collective Sexion d’Assaut to become a solo superstar, blending rap, pop, and Afro-influenced sounds. He has topped charts across Francophone Europe and was recently ranked as France’s biggest-selling recording artist.

The investigation is being closely watched in both France and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Gims enjoys significant influence and a large fan base. Financial crime specialists say the case could become a landmark if prosecutors manage to prove that high-profile entertainment ventures were used as fronts for large-scale laundering operations.