On June 4, 2025, Moroccan police arrested 24-year-old Frenchman of Moroccan descent Badis Mohamed Amid Bajou, suspected of organizing a series of kidnappings of crypto businessmen and their relatives in France. According to Le Figaro, Bajou was wanted by Interpol on charges of extortion, kidnapping, unlawful detention, and money laundering as part of an organized group. The arrest took place at the request of French authorities, and during a search, cold weapons and several phones were seized from the suspect.
Bajou is suspected of coordinating attacks from Morocco, including the kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Ballan in January and the attempted kidnapping of Paymium CEO Pierre Noa's daughter on May 13. French police link him to at least five kidnapping cases in 2025. The perpetrator used messengers to recruit accomplices. French Minister Gérald Darmanin thanked Morocco for its cooperation, emphasizing the importance of fighting crypto-crime.
France has tightened security measures for crypto entrepreneurs, providing them with direct contacts with the police and security instructions. The investigation is ongoing, as Bajou's main accomplice remains at large. Stay tuned for updates from #MiningUpdates
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