Morocco arrests planners of recent French crypto-related kidnapping

A man suspected of playing a key role in a series of kidnappings related to French cryptocurrencies, including the kidnapping of Ledger’s co-founder, has been arrested in Morocco.

The suspect is reportedly a French-Moroccan national with multiple knives and several cell phones.

Details of the arrest

French authorities and the subject of the 2023 Interpol Red Notice were wanted by 24-year-old Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, according to a report from local media. The announcement has published charges related to arrest, kidnapping, false imprisonment or arbitrary detention of hostages.

At the request of French authorities, the Moroccan National Police and Intelligence Service arrested Bajjou, the northern Moroccan city of Tangier. The State Administration of National Security confirmed the action in an official statement.

“I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which shows the judicial cooperation between our two countries, especially against organized crime,” said Gérald Darmanin, the Attorney General of France, in a statement on X.

Last week, French authorities also accused 25 people, including six minors, of being linked to a series of kidnappings and attempted kidnappings in the region.

In May, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau held an emergency meeting with crypto industry leaders. The ministry later announced plans to improve personal safety in the industry. New measures include priority access to police emergencies, home security assessments and security briefings from French law enforcement.

Encrypted link kidnapping

France has experienced several kidnappings recently and attempts to target crypto executives and their families have failed. One of the most recent events occurred in the vast sunlight on May 13. The attackers allegedly tried to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of French cryptocurrency platform Paymium.

This was after two successful incidents, later the victim was released with a missing finger. Also in May, the father of a French crypto millionaire was kidnapped in Paris while walking the dog. The victim was later detained for several days and was released after a ransom demand of $7.8 million.

In January, David Balland, co-founder of crypto wallet provider Ledger, was forcibly evacuated from his home in central France in the early hours of January 21. The executive was then imprisoned until the evening of January 22, causing his release. The case also involved a ransom of about $11.4 million.