Morocco Apprehends Architect of Recent Kidnappings Linked to French Cryptocurrency Scams

A man accused of being significantly involved in a series of recent kidnappings linked to cryptocurrencies in France has been apprehended in Morocco.

The individual, a dual citizen of France and Morocco, was reportedly discovered with an assortment of knives and several mobile devices.

Local sources indicate that 24-year-old Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou was wanted by French law enforcement and was the subject of an Interpol red notice issued in 2023. He faces charges related to kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and other forms of hostage detention.

Acting on a request from French authorities, Moroccan police and intelligence forces captured Bajjou in Tangier, a northern city in Morocco. The nation’s General Directorate for National Security verified the operation through an official announcement.

French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin expressed gratitude to Morocco for the arrest, highlighting the strong judicial collaboration between the two nations aimed at combating organized crime.

In a related development, French authorities recently charged 25 individuals, including six minors, associated with a spate of kidnappings and attempted abductions in the area.

In May, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau convened an urgent meeting with leaders from the cryptocurrency sector. Following this meeting, the ministry disclosed plans to enhance safety measures for those engaged in the industry. Newly implemented strategies include improved access to police emergency services, home security checks, and safety briefings from law enforcement.

France has witnessed a troubling rise in kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency executives and their families. One such incident took place on May 13, where assailants reportedly attempted to abduct the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of Paymium.

This incident followed two prior successful abductions where victims were later found with severed fingers. Additionally, during May, the father of a French crypto millionaire was abducted in Paris while walking his dog, only to be released after a ransom demand of $7.8 million.

Earlier in January, David Balland, a co-founder of the cryptocurrency wallet firm Ledger, was forcibly taken from his residence in central France during the early hours of the 21st. He remained in captivity until a police raid on the night of January 22 resulted in his release, involving a ransom of approximately $11.4 million.