tl;dr
A 24-year-old French-Moroccan man, Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, alleged mastermind behind recent crypto-related kidnappings in France, was arrested in Morocco. Bajjou, wanted by Interpol, is suspected to lead schemes including the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland. French Justice Ministe...
Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a 24-year-old French-Moroccan man and alleged mastermind behind a series of crypto-related kidnappings in France, was arrested in Morocco under an Interpol Red Notice. Bajjou is suspected of leading kidnapping schemes including the attack on Ledger co-founder David Balland earlier this year.
French authorities arrested Bajjou along with 12 others for multiple kidnapping plots carried out in May, one notably targeting the pregnant daughter of Pierre Noizat, CEO and co-founder of French crypto exchange Paymium. In total, 25 suspects, mostly aged between 16 and 23, have been charged in connection to these cases.
French Justice Minister Gérard Darmanin lauded Morocco for their cooperation, emphasizing the strong judicial collaboration between the two countries in combating organized crime.
While Bajjou is viewed as a key figure, investigators suspect another French-Moroccan national, identified through cryptocurrency transfer analysis, may be the true orchestrator behind the kidnappings.
These incidents fall within a broader global trend of increasing crypto-related physical attacks, known as "wrench attacks," where assailants force victims to transfer cryptocurrency under duress. So far in 2025, there have been 29 reported attacks worldwide, almost matching the total of 34 recorded in all of 2024.
Recent wrench attacks have not been limited to France; recent cases were reported in countries including Uganda and the United States, highlighting the growing risks faced by cryptocurrency holders globally.
The rise in such violent crimes underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and continuing international cooperation to protect crypto investors and combat organized crime within this burgeoning industry.