Moroccan police have arrested Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a 24-year-old Franco-Moroccan national, in Tangier following an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of French authorities. Bajjou is suspected of masterminding a series of kidnappings involving cryptocurrency entrepreneurs in France. The investigations tie him to multiple extortion schemes, including the high-profile abduction of Ledger co-founder David Balland in January, during which one of Balland's fingers was severed in ransom demands.
French prosecutors have charged 25 individuals, mostly aged between 16 and 23, in connection to these kidnappings. The suspects include young French nationals and several individuals from Senegal, Angola, and Russia. Authorities believe Bajjou worked alongside another unidentified Franco-Moroccan man, who is still at large and reportedly recruited youths via social media to execute these crimes.
The wave of crypto-related physical attacks has raised concerns about the security risks posed by blockchain transparency, where attackers can trace cryptocurrency holdings and associate them with individuals, leading to offline vulnerabilities. French Interior and Justice Ministers have acknowledged the severity of the issue and praised Moroccan authorities for their judicial cooperation.
These incidents have spurred discussions among industry stakeholders and regulators about improving protective measures, balancing financial privacy with security, including secure custody solutions and collaboration with law enforcement. The rise of "wrench attacks"—physical assaults targeting crypto holders—has been reported not only in France but globally, indicating a broader trend of crime linked to cryptocurrency wealth visibility.