Moroccan Police Bust Cryptocurrency Kidnapping Rings, Seize Millions in Cash

The first operation carried out by the National Bureau for the Fight against Economic and Financial Crimes, under the BNPJ, took place in Safi, reports Assabah, specifying that it made it possible to seize the sum of 2 million DH.

As for the second operation, it led to the arrest of a defendant and the seizure of the sum of 8,016,690 DH at his home in Marrakech. Three safes and a set of electronic equipment and digital media were also found.

These two operations follow a first one carried out on January 18 in Casablanca, by the same services, which led to the arrest of seven people, including a police officer from the Casablanca police prefecture and a person wanted at the national level.

They are suspected of being involved in a criminal network of "kidnapping, sequestration and identity theft regulated by law for the purpose of extortion". "The inspections carried out led to the seizure of around 14.8 million dirhams," a statement from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) said at the time.