Franco-Moroccan Suspect in Crypto Kidnappings Arrested in Morocco

Subject to two international arrest warrants and an Interpol red notice for "arrest, kidnapping, arbitrary detention or hostage-taking to obtain the execution of an order or condition, committed by an organized gang," this young man born in Le Chesnay in the Yvelines department is allegedly involved in kidnappings within the cryptocurrency community, including that of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger company, and his partner last January.

The Franco-Moroccan, arrested Tuesday in Tangier, is also suspected of being behind the kidnapping of a 56-year-old woman, mother of a cryptocurrency influencer, which occurred two years ago in Elancourt, according to BFMTV. In a message on X, Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of Justice, thanked the Moroccan authorities "for this arrest which demonstrates the excellent judicial cooperation" between Paris and Rabat, "particularly against organized crime."

It remains to be seen whether Morocco will agree to extradite Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou to France, as the suspect holds both Moroccan and French nationalities.