Latest news with #BadissMohamedAmideBajjou
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
French crypto kidnappings suspect arrested in Morocco, says source
Moroccan authorities have arrested a French-Moroccan man suspected of involvement in recent kidnappings in France targeting individuals with crypto wealth, a source with knowledge of the arrest said on Wednesday. French justice minister Gerald Darmanin thanked Morocco for the arrest in a post on X, without giving further details of the charges or incidents. The 24-year-old man, named by a separate Moroccan police source as Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, was subject to an Interpol red notice and wanted by France on charges including participation in organised crime, kidnapping and extortion. The police source said that since Bajjou is a dual national, he will not be extradited and will be tried in Morocco on the charges he is facing in France. French authorities had passed details of the charges to Moroccan counterparts so that the man can face justice in Morocco, the source added.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Suspect in French Crypto Kidnappings Arrested in Morocco
A suspect allegedly behind recent high-profile crypto kidnappings in France has been arrested in Morocco, according to Maghreb Arab Press, a government-run press agency. At the request of French authorities, a joint operation of Morocco's National Judicial Police Brigade (BNPJ) and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) took the 24-year-old French-Moroccan suspect into custody, according to a statement from Moroccan police distributed by MAP. The press agency described the man, who was identified by French press as Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, as a mastermind of the crimes. "I sincerely thank Morocco for this arrest, which demonstrates the excellent judicial cooperation between our two countries, particularly against organized crime," said French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin in a translated statement on social-media site X. Interpol said Bajjou was sought for organized extortion, kidnapping and violence, according to a so-called "red notice" posted for the man. French authorities have already charged more than two dozen people — including six minors — in the spate of crypto kidnappings in Paris, most of them tied to the May 13 failed kidnapping attempt of the family of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of exchange Paymium. Also in May, the father of a French crypto millionaire was reportedly kidnapped in a case that was similar to the earlier seizure of David Ballard, a co-founder of crypto-wallet developer Ledger, and his wife. Kidnappers severed a finger from each of the men. After those recent cases, France's Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau hosted a meeting with people involved in crypto to discuss measures to keep them secure.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Suspected crypto kidnapping mastermind detained in Morocco
One of the suspected masterminds behind a string of violent kidnappings in France of people linked to the cryptocurrency trade was detained Tuesday in Morocco, France's justice minister said. Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a 24-year-old French-Moroccan citizen from just outside Paris, was wanted by France for several crimes, including armed extortion and kidnapping as part of a criminal gang, according to the 'red notice' for him published by Interpol and Moroccan state media. French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin thanked Morocco on X for detaining the man, citing the 'excellent judicial cooperation' between the two countries. Bajjou had 'multiple bladed weapons of different sizes' in his possession when he was taken into custody, as well as 'dozens of mobile phones and communication devices' and a sum of money allegedly related to criminal activities, Moroccan state media reported. The man was apprehended, weeks after the latest kidnapping attempt in Paris, near Tangier in northern Morocco, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV. He is allegedly linked to a string of violent crimes related to crypto funds dating back to at least January 21 of this year. In January, David Balland, cofounder of a crypto wallet company, and his partner, were kidnapped in central France with their attackers cutting off one of Balland's fingers as part of a 10-million euro ($11,430,000) ransom demand. The couple were later freed by elite French policemen, according to BFMTV. Bajjou is also suspected of involvement in the May kidnapping of another man working in the crypto industry, who also had one of his fingers cut off before his release, per BFMTV. Later that month, the daughter of the CEO of French cryptocurrency platform Paymium was saved by passers-by from a daylight kidnapping attempt in Paris, with Bajjou suspected to have been involved, BFMTV reported. On May 30, 25 people aged between 16 and 23 were put under official investigation in Paris, suspected of involvement in a kidnapping in May in Paris and an attempted kidnapping in the western French city of Nantes.
