French-Moroccan Man Arrested in Crypto Kidnapping Case

Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a Franco-Moroccan national and alleged ringleader behind a string of high-profile crypto kidnappings in France, was arrested by local authorities in Tangier.

His capture follows the earlier arrests of 25 lower-level operatives tied to the same criminal network.

Bajjou had been wanted by Interpol for charges including organised extortion and kidnapping.

Gérald Darmanin, France’s Minister of Justice, expressed in an X (formerly known as Twitter) post:

“I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which demonstrates excellent judicial cooperation between our two countries, particularly in the fight against organised crime.”

He now joins 12 others previously detained by French police in connection to a series of May attacks—one of which involved the attempted broad-daylight abduction of the pregnant daughter of Pierre Noizat, CEO and co-founder of French crypto exchange Paymium.

According to Le Monde, French police formally charged 25 suspects in that case, most of them aged between 16 and 23, with nationalities spanning France, Senegal, Angola, and Russia.

Authorities have directly linked Bajjou to the kidnapping of crypto entrepreneur David Balland, though they suspect the incidents are part of a broader, coordinated network.

Investigators believe at least one additional mastermind remains at large in Morocco.

Despite these arrests, some experts caution that the growing trend of crypto-related abductions could inspire global copycats—even as this particular ring unravels.

Second Suspect Still at Large

French prosecutors have identified Bajjou as one of two suspected masterminds behind the recent wave of crypto-related kidnappings, believed to have operated from Morocco.

The second suspect, a Franco-Moroccan man in his forties who remains at large, is suspected of using social media to recruit young men in France to execute the attacks.

Authorities believe the two coordinated remotely from Morocco, enlisting youth to carry out the abductions on the ground.

While the second suspect continues to evade capture, both French and Moroccan authorities are actively pursuing him.

With the majority of the network’s operatives now in custody, investigators may find a key opportunity to secure cooperation from within the group—potentially turning one of the arrested individuals into a valuable informant.

End in Sight for France’s Crypto Kidnapping Wave?

The recent wave of crypto-related kidnappings in France has sparked a national scandal, prompting authorities to ramp up security and investigative efforts.

But the key question remains: will dismantling this criminal network be enough to halt the surge in targeted abductions?

The trend appears far from isolated—similar violent incidents have emerged in countries like Argentina and the United States, signalling a broader global pattern.

As copycat attempts gain traction, containing this new form of organised crime may prove increasingly complex.