Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, 24, Wanted by Interpol, Involved in Ledger CEO Kidnapping Demanding 10 Million Euros.
A 24-year-old French-Moroccan citizen, suspected of being behind a series of crypto-related kidnappings in France, was arrested in the city of Tangier, Morocco, according to information from Le Parisien. Interpol has issued a "red notice" for Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, who is accused by French authorities of multiple charges, including armed extortion and kidnapping.
Bajjou was arrested this week for involvement in multiple attacks targeting crypto entrepreneurs and individuals with large assets. According to the accusations, Bajjou played a central role in coordinating kidnappings and extortions from abroad, with incidents potentially starting from July 2023.
One of the notable cases involved the kidnapping of an elderly woman at her private residence, where the kidnapping group allegedly demanded ransom in cryptocurrency from her son. Two suspects have been prosecuted in this case, demonstrating the organized nature and scale of the criminal network.
Shocking Torture of Ledger CEO
French prosecutors are investigating Bajjou's potential involvement in the kidnapping and torture of David Balland, co-founder of Cold Storage Ledger. In this case, the kidnapping group allegedly demanded a 10 million euro cryptocurrency ransom and cut off one of Balland's fingers to apply pressure. This incident shocked the global crypto community due to its brutal nature and significant financial scale.
Authorities also suspect Bajjou's connection to another extortion plot in May targeting the family of Pierre Noizat, CEO of Paymium exchange. Masked individuals attempted to kidnap Noizat's daughter, son-in-law, and grandson in broad daylight. However, thanks to civilian intervention, the plot was thwarted. 25 suspects, including minors, have been prosecuted for involvement in this network.
According to Moroccan media, when arrested, Bajjou was carrying multiple sharp weapons, dozens of mobile phones, and a large amount of cash believed to be related to criminal activities. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin thanked Moroccan authorities for their close cooperation.
However, French authorities noted that another suspect, a 40-year-old French-Moroccan man believed to be the mastermind, is still at large. The arrest occurred against the backdrop of an alarmingly increasing wave of crimes targeting the digital asset community in France.
Bruno Retailleau, French Interior Minister, met with crypto industry leaders and committed to pursuing perpetrators while enhancing protection for entrepreneurs in the digital asset sector. This situation reflects a global trend where individuals holding large amounts of crypto become attack targets, with similar incidents also recorded in the UK and the United States.
