Samir Nasri Detained for 10 Hours in Organized Crime Probe

Samir Nasri, the former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder, was held by police for 10 hours on Thursday as part of an investigation into organized money laundering linked to drug trafficking, according to French outlet Le Parisien. The 38-year-old, now a television pundit for Canal+, was questioned by authorities but released without charge. The investigation involves allegations of importing narcotics, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering tied to drug trafficking as part of an organized group. Nasri is reportedly implicated in the money laundering aspect due to his role as former manager of the ‘XS’ nightclub in Paris. He invested several hundred thousand euros in the establishment while playing for Manchester City and later became a co-owner. Investigators are looking into claims that the wife of Hakim Berrebouh—a drug trafficker imprisoned since 2021—withdrew large sums from the nightclub between 2021 and 2023. This marks the second time Nasri has been questioned in connection with the case, though no legal action has been taken against him. His lawyer has declined to comment. The former France international faces additional legal trouble. In April, French authorities scrutinized his tax residency status, citing a Deliveroo account with over 200 orders as evidence he spent more time in France than in Dubai. Airline records show he spent 126–208 days annually in France from 2021 to 2023, compared to just 42–124 days in the UAE. The tax authorities obtained a seizure of his Paris property, upheld in March, and his bank accounts have been frozen. His lawyers have appealed the property seizure. International tax law expert Lyes Kaci cautioned against jumping to conclusions, noting that the evidence so far is not sufficient to condemn Nasri. “The heart of this matter is far from settled,” Kaci said.