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Moroccan police, acting on a request from French authorities, have arrested Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a 24-year-old French-Moroccan national accused of leading a brutal kidnapping ring targeting crypto investors. The alleged French crypto kidnapper was found with multiple weapons and phones, raising fears of further planned attacks.
France’s Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, confirmed the arrest on June 4, praising Morocco’s cooperation in nabbing one of Europe’s most wanted criminals. “This arrest demonstrates our shared commitment to dismantling organized crime,” Darmanin stated.
Bajjou, a suspected French crypto kidnapper, had been on Interpol’s radar since 2023 under a red notice linking him to multiple violent crimes. His arrest follows a string of high-profile abductions in France, where victims were allegedly tortured into surrendering cryptocurrency holdings.
One of the most brazen incidents occurred on May 13, when assailants—allegedly tied to Bajjou’s network—attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium. Bystanders intervened, foiling the attack, but the case underscored the growing threat posed by French crypto kidnapper syndicates.
The arrest comes amid a surge in crypto-linked kidnappings across France. In May, Paris police rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur held for days in a €7 million ($7.8 million) ransom plot. Months earlier, Ledger co-founder David Balland was abducted from his home and freed only after a tense police standoff.
Authorities believe Bajjou’s network specifically targeted crypto insiders, exploiting their access to digital assets.
“These French crypto kidnapper gangs operate with military precision,” a Paris police spokesperson revealed. “They surveil victims, strike at vulnerable moments, and use extreme violence to extract funds.”
In response, French law enforcement has rolled out enhanced security measures for crypto executives, including emergency hotline priority, home security audits, and personalized safety training. The crackdown follows warnings that French crypto kidnapper cells may have international ties, with Morocco serving as a key hideout.
While Bajjou’s capture marks a major victory, experts caution that the broader network remains active.
“This French crypto kidnapper arrest is critical, but the threat isn’t neutralized yet,” said cybersecurity analyst Claire Dubois. “Crypto holders must stay vigilant.”
The case has triggered cross-border probes, with Europol assisting French and Moroccan agencies in tracing ransom payments, often laundered through privacy coins or offshore exchanges. Meanwhile, victims’ families demand stricter regulations to curb crypto-fueled crime.
As Bajjou faces extradition to France, the arrest sends a message to French crypto kidnapper operatives: law enforcement is closing in. But with ransom demands soaring, the battle is far from over.
