5-6-2025 – Moroccan authorities have apprehended Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a 24-year-old French-Moroccan man suspected of orchestrating a string of audacious kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency figures in France. Acting on a request from French officials, Morocco’s national police and intelligence service detained Bajjou, who was found carrying an array of bladed weapons and multiple mobile phones, hinting at his alleged criminal activities. The arrest, which took place in Morocco, was lauded by France’s Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, in a June 4 post on X, where he commended the robust judicial collaboration between the two nations in tackling organised crime.
The operation follows a 2023 Interpol red notice that linked Bajjou to a series of kidnappings and other illicit activities. His capture marks a pivotal moment in addressing a recent surge of violent incidents tied to France’s cryptocurrency sector. Among these, a brazen daylight attack on May 13 saw masked assailants attempt to abduct the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the chief executive of French crypto platform Paymium.
Dramatic footage captured by onlookers depicted Noizat’s daughter, aided by courageous bystanders, repelling the attackers, who fled in a waiting van. In a separate incident on May 3, Paris police successfully rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur, who had been held captive for days in a chilling 7 million euro ($7.8 million) kidnapping scheme. Earlier this year, on January 21, David Balland, co-founder of crypto wallet provider Ledger, was forcibly taken from his home in central France, enduring captivity until a police operation secured his release the following night.
En plein Paris, un homme a été violenté par des individus cagoulés, habillés tout en noir. Ils tentaient de l’enlever. Un homme a surgi, extincteur à la main, pour les faire fuir. →https://t.co/P0qV6PR40v pic.twitter.com/9f4r2Gi7ho
— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) May 13, 2025
In response to this alarming wave of crypto-related abductions, French law enforcement has intensified protective measures for cryptocurrency executives and their families. These include prioritised access to emergency police lines, comprehensive home security evaluations, and tailored safety briefings to ensure those at risk are equipped with robust safeguards. This concerted effort underscores France’s determination to curb the rising tide of targeted crimes within its burgeoning crypto industry.
