Gims lives between Marrakech and Dubai. The singer often returns to France to perform concerts.
The star with the dark glasses spent 48 hours in police custody. He was then formally charged with “aggravated money laundering” and placed under judicial supervision as part of an investigation into a sprawling fraud scheme in which fifteen individuals have already been implicated.
“As part of the investigations conducted by the National Anti-Fraud Office, the existence of potential links between this international network and several individuals involved, including Mr. Gandhi Djuna [alias “Gims”], has emerged,” stated the National Prosecutor’s Office for Anti-Organized Crime (PNACO). The mastermind behind this massive money laundering operation is believed to be a French-Moroccan man with ties to the singer. In the book *L’Empire – Enquête au cœur du rap français* (The Empire – An Investigation at the Heart of French Rap), Tracfin, the French financial intelligence unit, examined the development of a project to build 118 villas in Marrakech, a project in which Gims is involved and which could be part of an organized money laundering scheme. The National Anti-Corruption Program (PNACO) is investigating a network originating in Nanterre, run by men known for drug trafficking who have turned to money laundering, and which is believed to handle several hundred million euros. Customs investigators have traced the network back to French-Moroccans, some of whom may be linked to Gims or his associates. However, his precise role in this affair is not yet known.
Mehdi Cherrak is identified as the strategic partner of the rapper Gims for the development of the “Sunset Village Private Residences” project. This project, valued at approximately 100 million euros, involves the construction of 120 luxury villas in Marrakech. He is the founder of MC Agency, a company operating like a private club, offering turnkey services to wealthy investors in Morocco, including property research, renovation, and management. Africa Intelligence regularly highlights its ability to attract celebrities and international investors to the Amizmiz Road area and other prestigious neighborhoods in Marrakech.
Gims, the star known for his dark glasses, spent 48 hours in police custody. He was then formally charged with “aggravated money laundering” and placed under judicial supervision as part of an investigation into a sprawling fraud scheme in which fifteen individuals have already been implicated.
“As part of the investigations conducted by the National Anti-Fraud Office, the existence of potential links between this international network and several individuals involved, including Mr. Gandhi Djuna [alias “Gims”], has emerged,” stated the National Prosecutor’s Office for Anti-Organized Crime (PNACO). The mastermind behind this massive money laundering operation is allegedly a French-Moroccan man with ties to the singer.
According to investigations conducted by the journalist and the financial intelligence unit (Tracfin):
Morocco
Gims, who has resided in Marrakech for over a decade, is known for his close relationship with King Mohammed VI. The courts are investigating his involvement in the “Sunset Village” real estate project, which involves the construction of 118 luxury villas and is suspected of being linked to an international money laundering network. The “Sunset Village” project in Marrakech is a luxury residential complex called Sunset Village Private Residences (developed by Horizon Morocco). It comprises 117 to 118 luxury villas arranged around a 3,000 m² artificial lagoon. A resident of Marrakech for over ten years, Gims actively promoted the project and planned to inaugurate his own residence, villa number 117, in early 2026. Investigators suspect that this project, valued at approximately €100 million, may have served as a vehicle for laundering illicit funds within a vast international network involving more than 2,000 companies.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Originally from Kinshasa, Gims holds a diplomatic passport in his capacity as an ambassador of Congolese culture, which attests to his close ties with the country’s authorities. His diplomatic passport, issued by President Félix Tshisekedi, allows him to bypass the usual travel restrictions and makes him an influential cultural figure. Piel points out that Gims even facilitated high-level meetings, such as welcoming Hélène Arnault (wife of LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault) to Kinshasa.
Simon Piel
