Moroccan authorities have arrested a 24-year-old man believed to be the mastermind behind a string of crypto-related kidnappings that have rocked France in recent months. The suspect, Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a French-Moroccan national, was detained after a request from French authorities. Police discovered several mobile phones and bladed weapons in his possession during the operation.

France’s Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, publicly praised the arrest, calling it a testament to the strong judicial cooperation between France and Morocco in combating organized crime. The arrest follows an Interpol red notice issued in 2023 linking Bajjou to multiple kidnapping and criminal incidents.

The wave of kidnappings began earlier this year, targeting figures in the crypto space. Most recently, on May 13, attackers attempted to abduct the daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat in broad daylight. The attack, caught on video by bystanders, showed the family resisting the assailants, who fled the scene in a van.

Earlier in May, Paris police rescued the father of a crypto entrepreneur who had been kidnapped and held for ransom in a €7 million ($7.8 million) plot. In January, Ledger co-founder David Balland was abducted from his home and held captive until a nighttime police rescue.

In response to the surge in crypto-related abductions, French law enforcement has increased protection for crypto executives and their families. Measures include emergency police line access, in-home security evaluations, and official safety briefings to help prevent future incidents. The arrest of Bajjou marks a major breakthrough in the ongoing effort to dismantle criminal networks targeting the crypto industry.