Paris Police Search Ritz and Other Estates in Al Fayed Trafficking Inquiry

French law enforcement officials conducted searches at several luxury properties linked to the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The operations were part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected international network that trafficked women for the Egyptian-born tycoon. Prosecutors confirmed that authorities examined the famous Ritz hotel in Paris, the historic Villa Windsor, and the Castel Sainte-Therese in Saint-Tropez.

The Paris prosecutor's office stated that the searches represent a significant development in a probe that began in 2025. The initial aim of the investigation was to identify accomplices in the alleged network that supplied victims to Mohamed Al Fayed and his late brother, Salah Al Fayed. During the operations, several individuals were held for questioning, and investigators are currently analysing computers, mobile phones, and other digital media.

Mohamed Al Fayed, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 94, remains central to a major sexual abuse scandal in the United Kingdom. Although multiple complaints were filed against him during his lifetime, no formal charges were ever brought. The Ritz is just one of several high-profile ventures associated with the tycoon where victims have reported facing abuse. Other locations mentioned include the Harrods department store in London, Fulham Football Club, and his fleet of private jets.

Victims have also alleged that abuse occurred at Villa Windsor in western Paris. This property was formerly the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. It was reportedly intended to be the home of Mohamed Al Fayed's son, Dodi, and his partner, Princess Diana, before their tragic deaths in a car crash in 1997.

In 2025, Paris prosecutors opened an inquiry into claims of aggravated human trafficking, procuring prostitutes, and rape. The goal was to track down those involved in the alleged international network. Sources close to the case told AFP that French investigators have already heard from at least five complainants, with the most recent testimony provided in October. Some victims hesitated to come forward due to trauma or fear.

Lawyers Eva Joly, Caroline Joly, and Agathe Barril, who represent several of the complainants, issued a joint statement praising the recent developments. They noted that new victims from around the world are finding the courage to speak out about their experiences every month. However, they cautioned that the investigation is only halfway through. The lawyers described the alleged organization as a mechanism devised with cold calculation, where the brothers' immense wealth and business empire were mobilised for sexual predation.

Complainants have described a system designed to recruit young women who were hoping for careers at Harrods or as assistants. These recruits were subjected to invasive gynaecological examinations before being placed in made-up jobs that left them at the disposal of the Al Fayed brothers. Some victims told AFP they believe they were drugged during the process.

One complainant, a former Ritz employee who was transported between France and Britain, spoke on condition of anonymity. She stated that trafficking cannot be carried out without a highly organised group of individuals. While she praised the French investigation, she criticised the London Metropolitan Police for what she described as beating around the bush thirty years after the first complaints were made.

In a letter to survivors sent on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said the investigation is one of the force's largest and most complex. They confirmed that 169 victims have now come forward and that their officers are working closely with French authorities. Seven people suspected of enabling Mohamed Al Fayed have been questioned in London, but none have been charged yet.

French and British investigators are now sharing information on the case, with UK authorities present during the recent operations in France. The management of the Ritz hotel told AFP that it does not tolerate any form of harassment, abuse, or inappropriate behaviour. The hotel stated that it is ready to cooperate fully with the competent judicial authorities as the probe continues.