Morocco Nabs Crypto Kidnap Kingpin Behind French Heists

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In a turn of events that makes you wonder if criminals now follow a ‘how-to’ guide for drama, a man suspected of orchestrating a string of audacious crypto-linked kidnappings in France has been caught. Guess where? Morocco. Because, of course, it’s always Morocco.

The suspect, Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou—who might as well have been born with a license for trouble—was found holding an arsenal of bladed weapons and, for some reason, multiple mobile phones. I guess it’s all part of the master plan. Just don’t leave home without them, right?

How the Great Capture Went Down

Meet 24-year-old Badiss, a man wanted by French authorities for kidnapping, false imprisonment, and a string of unpleasantness that would make any criminal’s mother proud. He was on Interpol’s radar since 2023, like a bad movie villain with a penchant for bad decisions. French cops were eager to get him, and in the dramatic twist of fate we never knew we needed, Morocco’s national police were the ones to pull him out of the shadows in Tangier.

As French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin tweeted, “Big thanks to Morocco! We got him, proving our partnership on crime is top-notch!” Well, that was some polite gratitude. Maybe too polite?

Oh, and the plot thickens. Last week, French authorities slapped charges on 25 individuals—yes, even six minors—linked to more kidnappings and failed abductions. It’s becoming a full-blown crime ring, with an all-star cast, apparently.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wasn’t sitting idle either. In May, he held an emergency pow-wow with crypto bigwigs to discuss how to keep their high-stakes crypto playground safe. The result? A slew of ’emergency’ measures like priority police lines, home security checks, and safety seminars from French cops. Nothing screams “we’re serious” like a police safety briefing, right?

Crypto Kidnapping Chronicles

Oh, but the kidnapping saga doesn’t end with Bajjou’s arrest. In fact, it’s just one chapter in an unfolding crime drama that targets crypto execs and their families. In May, in a brazen daytime assault, Pierre Noizat’s daughter and grandson were nearly snatched right in front of their noses. Because why not go for an obvious victim in broad daylight?

And then there were the other unfortunate souls who were kidnapped, only to have body parts as souvenirs. One such poor guy was grabbed, held for ransom, and then released with missing fingers. Yes, you read that right. The ransom was around $7.8 million. It seems kidnapping has become a very lucrative business.

But the real kicker? In January, David Balland, co-founder of the crypto wallet giant Ledger, was dragged from his home in the dead of night. They didn’t stop until they squeezed out a cool $11.4 million ransom. It was like a movie script gone too far, but in real life. Talk about high stakes!

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2025-06-09 01:08