The main suspect of the French cryptocurrency kidnapping case was arrested in Morocco, and the global crypto security alarm bell sounded again.
According to Reuters on June 4, Moroccan police recently arrested a man suspected of being involved in a series of kidnappings of cryptocurrency holders in France.
The 24-year-old suspect, who holds dual French and Moroccan nationality, was identified as Bajjou Badiss Mohamed AmiDe, who was wanted by the French authorities on an Interpol red warrant for organized crime, kidnapping and extortion.
French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed the arrest on social media and thanked Moroccan authorities for their cooperation, but did not comment further on the case. Moroccan officials confirmed that the suspect would not be extradited and would be tried locally based on French criminal charges.
The arrest comes at a time when there has been a surge in attacks on cryptocurrency entrepreneurs in France, and the Minister of the Interior has initiated emergency protection measures for these incidents. Reports on May 16 indicated that the government has begun offering private security consultations and family assessments to individuals deemed at risk.
The Minister of the Interior stressed in a closed-door meeting with cryptocurrency founders that he would do his utmost to curb the current "intolerable" attacks.
According to Ledger co-founder Éric Larchevêque, France accounted for 14 of the 50 cryptocurrency-related attacks worldwide in the past year. The latest cases include the kidnapping of Larchevêque's colleagues in January and the attempted kidnapping of the daughter of Paymium CEO in Paris on May 14 (both with video evidence).
The move by the French Ministry of the Interior is aimed at preventing further escalation as France strives to maintain its position as a digital financial center. The lawsuit against Bajjou will continue under Moroccan jurisdiction.
As the popularity of cryptocurrencies has increased, related criminal activities have also increased. Do you think governments should follow France's example and strengthen security protection measures for key holders?
