Moroccan Authorities Arrest Suspected Crypto Kidnapping Mastermind
Moroccan authorities apprehended Badiss Mohammed Bajjou, 24, this Tuesday, on charges of orchestrating numerous kidnappings in France targeting cryptocurrency investors. Bajjou, a Franco-Moroccan national, is accused of involvement in a series of crimes that have plagued the crypto community.
The year 2025 saw a surge in such crimes, with at least seven incidents occurring in France. Bajjou is implicated in several of these cases, as well as another incident dating back to 2023.
One of the most high-profile cases is the kidnapping of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a well-known Bitcoin wallet provider. Reports at the time indicated that Balland suffered severe injuries at the hands of his captors.
Police in Morocco Arrest Alleged Mastermind of Crypto Investor Kidnappings
Crimes targeting cryptocurrency investors have seen a significant increase in 2025. Investigations suggest that Badiss Mohammed Bajjou is the alleged mastermind behind some of these recent crimes, including the kidnapping of an elderly woman in June 2023, which resulted in two arrests.
According to Le Parisien, Bajjou was among the ten most wanted French fugitives and was apprehended by local authorities in Morocco this Tuesday.
Gérald Darmanin, the French Minister of Justice, expressed his gratitude to the Moroccan police on social media, acknowledging the arrest.
“I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which demonstrates the excellent judicial cooperation between our two countries, especially in the fight against organized crime,” Darmanin commented.
Authorities are also investigating the potential involvement of another Franco-Moroccan individual, aged 40, in these crimes. This person’s name surfaced during an analysis of cryptocurrency flows used to pay ransoms.
Last month, Bruno Retailleau, the Minister of the Interior, noted that the attacks follow a pattern, which has led to Bajjou’s investigation for multiple crimes.
France Had Already Arrested 25 People Last Week
Prior to Bajjou’s arrest in Morocco, French police had already arrested 25 individuals last Saturday, accused of being connected to these crimes. This includes the attempted kidnapping of the daughter of a crypto executive last month.
“Eighteen people have been placed in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing, and four are under judicial supervision,” stated the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The suspects range in age from 16 to 23, with six of them being under 18.
It is possible that members of the gang implicated Bajjou as the mastermind, which may have expedited his capture by Moroccan authorities.
While investors can maintain a degree of anonymity regarding their investments, executives in the sector are more exposed. This contributes to the climate of fear surrounding the wave of kidnappings and mutilations.
Similar crimes have also been reported in other continents. In South America, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil have also experienced robberies and kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency investors in 2025.
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