Twenty-five people, including six minors, have been indicted in Paris for a series of attempted kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency-related personalities, including relatives of Paymium’s CEO.
Le crypto business français sous pression
The suspects, aged 16 to 23, are said to have been recruited by an international criminal organization for small amounts, revealing a young and manipulable workforce.
Facing an increase in attacks, French authorities are developing a security strategy as crypto kidnappings spread internationally, notably to the United States.
Twenty-five people, including six minors, have been indicted in a far-reaching case of kidnapping attempts linked to the world of cryptocurrencies. At the heart of the investigation: several kidnappings, including the failed attack on the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of the French platform Paymium.
The incidents date back to May 13. Several individuals attempted to kidnap Noizat’s relatives. The plan, thwarted in time, is part of a series of similar attempts, including one against the same victims, and another near Nantes a few days later.
The shockwave is brutal for the French crypto ecosystem. In May, the father of a sector millionaire had already been abducted and tortured. In January, David Ballard, co-founder of Ledger, had suffered the same violence and also had a finger severed, used to extort funds.
In light of the escalation, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau convened key sector players to develop a security strategy. The measures envisaged remain confidential for now, but the warning is clear: holding cryptos in France is becoming a risk factor.
Des profils jeunes enrôlés par un réseau international
According to initial information, the suspects are mostly aged 16 to 23. They are grassroots recruits, locally hired for paltry sums, sometimes less than 10,000 euros, by a criminal organization based in Morocco or Southeast Asia. Three of the accused are from Senegal, Angola, and Russia; the others were born in France.
“These are very young profiles, lured by money, then caught up in a spiral beyond their control,” said Attorney Ambroise Vienet-Legué, representing an 18-year-old suspect involved in the Nantes case.
As of now, 18 suspects are in pre-trial detention. Three have requested a hearing postponement, and four are under judicial supervision. The ongoing investigation is exploring possible international connections.
La France, épicentre d’une menace mondiale
While France is in the spotlight with this unprecedented wave, the phenomenon of crypto kidnappings is gaining ground globally. In the United States, several similar cases have recently been reported. The rise of digital assets comes with new risks, prompting authorities to adapt their strategies to address these challenges.
