French Police Nab Seven in Brazen Crypto Kidnapping Plot
Crypto crime takes a dark turn as authorities disrupt another abduction scheme targeting digital asset holders.
THE CRACKDOWN
Parisian units moved swiftly—apprehending all seven suspects connected to the orchestrated kidnapping attempt. No victims were harmed during the intervention.
THE PATTERN
This marks the latest in a string of high-stakes crypto crimes sweeping Europe. Criminals increasingly target investors—assuming fat wallets accompany decentralized portfolios.
THE IRONY
While regulators fret over investor protection forms, it’s old-fashioned police work doing the actual protecting. Seven suspects now face justice—not a white paper in sight.
Crypto kidnappings around the world
David Sehyeon Baek, a cybercrime consultant, previously told Decrypt that the number of incidents is likely higher than reported.
"Many cases never reach the public eye because victims choose silence to protect their reputation or avoid becoming repeat targets," he said.
Nevertheless, France has faced some of the most brutal recent cases. In January, kidnappers seized Ledger co-founder David Balland, severed his finger and demanded ransom before his release.
In May, the father of a Malta-based crypto executive was abducted in Paris. His finger was also cut off before a police raid freed him. And in June, police arrested alleged mastermind Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou in Morocco and charged 25 suspects in schemes that included an attack on Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat’s pregnant daughter.
The problem, however, extends far beyond France. Criminal groups worldwide are seizing on the anonymity and portability of cryptocurrencies to extort victims, making digital wealth a uniquely tempting target.
Victims include both those working in crypto and other wealthy individuals whom kidnappers demand pay their ransoms in crypto.
In March, Chinese-Filipino steel magnate Anson Que was killed after kidnappers demanded $20 million in crypto. In Hong Kong, a Turkish man was ambushed during a multimillion-euro crypto trade.
And in Brazil, a Spanish businessman was drugged and held for five days while criminals sought $50 million in ransom.
