Crypto Kidnappings: Key Suspect Arrested in Morocco in Expanding Criminal Investigation

24-Year-Old French National Wanted for Multiple Abductions and Extortion

A 24-year-old man, Badiss Mohammed Bajjou, suspected of orchestrating a string of kidnappings linked to the cryptocurrency world, was arrested on Tuesday, June 3, in Tangier, northern Morocco. Wanted by French authorities, he was the subject of multiple international arrest warrants for organized extortion, abduction, and unlawful confinement. His capture followed a Red Notice issued by Interpol.
“I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which highlights the excellent judicial cooperation between our two countries, particularly in the fight against organized crime,” said French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin on social media platform X.

A String of Violent Abductions Under Investigation

According to investigators, Badiss Mohammed Bajjou may be connected to several high-profile kidnapping cases that have rocked France in recent months, all targeting individuals in the cryptocurrency sector. Among the most notable was the abduction of David Balland, co-founder of the Ledger company, and his partner. The couple was kidnapped on January 21 in the Cher department and later rescued by France’s elite GIGN police unit. During their captivity, the kidnappers demanded a €10 million ransom and inflicted serious injuries, including severing one of Balland’s fingers.

On May 1, in Paris’s 14th arrondissement, the father of a Malta-based crypto entrepreneur was abducted while walking his dog. Forced into a van by masked assailants, he was discovered alive but injured 58 hours later in a house in Palaiseau.

Just two weeks later, on May 13, an attempted street kidnapping targeted the daughter and son-in-law of another crypto business leader. In a separate case from August 2023, Bajjou is also suspected of orchestrating the abduction of a well-known YouTuber’s father, known online as “Teufeurs,” for ransom. The man was later released.

Criminal Network Possibly Behind Series of Attacks

A major breakthrough in the investigation occurred in late May, when French authorities carried out a series of arrests connected to these abductions. In Nantes, a kidnapping was foiled just minutes before execution. The following day, arrests were made in Paris, including in the 11th arrondissement. The ongoing investigation, led by France’s National Jurisdiction for the Fight Against Organized Crime (Junalco), is exploring the possibility that a single, structured criminal network is responsible for the wave of abductions targeting cryptocurrency figures—seen by criminals as high-value, vulnerable targets compared to traditional financial institutions.