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The founder and CEO of the messaging platform Telegram, Pavel Durov, was detained at a Paris airport on an arrest warrant alleging his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking, and other criminal offenses, according to French media reports.

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Detention at Paris-Le Bourget Airport

Pavel Durov, a dual citizen of France and Russia, was taken into custody on Saturday evening after arriving in France from Azerbaijan. The 39-year-old billionaire, who resides in Dubai where Telegram is headquartered, also holds dual citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Upon his arrival at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, Durov was met by investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office, which is part of the French customs department. The investigators informed him that he was being placed in police custody.

Allegations and Potential Legal Consequences

The arrest warrant for Durov was reportedly issued by France at the request of a specialized unit within the country's interior ministry. This unit is responsible for investigating crimes against minors, including online sexual exploitation, the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse content, and grooming for sexual purposes. If convicted, Durov could face up to 20 years in prison, a sobering prospect for the tech entrepreneur.

A French judicial official indicated that Durov might appear before a judge later on Sunday to determine whether he would remain in custody.

Telegram Under Fire

Telegram, an encrypted messaging service, was launched by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai in 2013. Prior to founding Telegram, Durov developed the Russian social network Vkontakte in 2006, which he later sold for $300 million in 2015. 

In 2014 he was forced to step down as the Vkontakte CEO by the Russian government., leading him to leave Russia.

Durov's current wealth largely stems from Telegram, which boasts 950 million active users and is valued at over $30 billion. Telegram's rise to prominence has not been without controversy, particularly in Russia, where authorities have clamped down on the digital space. Regulations have been adopted that force internet providers to block websites and require cellphone operators to store call records and messages that can be shared with security services.