Mohamed Al-Fayed Case: Police Custodies and Searches, Including One at the Ritz, in the Investigation of an Alleged Human Trafficking Network

A French investigation into a suspected human trafficking network linked to Mohamed Al-Fayed has intensified, with searches and interrogations conducted at several locations in Paris and the French Riviera. The inquiry, which began in 2025, focuses on allegations of organized human trafficking and sexual violence involving former personal assistants. Victims have reported being recruited under false pretenses and subjected to invasive examinations. The Metropolitan Police in London has faced criticism for its slow response to these allegations. Al-Fayed, who passed away in 2023, has been implicated in a broader scandal of sexual violence in the UK, with multiple women claiming to have been assaulted in his properties. The Ritz hotel has stated its commitment to cooperating with authorities.