Cryptocurrency Kidnappings on the Rise: Another Victim Rescued in Paris
On Saturday evening, French police executed a raid on a house in Essonne, just south of Paris, rescuing a 60-year-old man who had been held captive for over two days. The man, who runs a marketing company focused on cryptocurrencies, was kidnapped in broad daylight on Thursday morning while walking in the 14th arrondissement of central Paris. Four masked men seized him and forced him into a van, marking a brazen act of violence that has shocked the community.
When authorities located the man during their operation, they discovered he had suffered a severely mutilated finger and was at risk of further harm. In response to this alarming situation, five suspects, aged between 20 and 27, were arrested. The prosecutor's office confirmed that a ransom was demanded, although no specific details were disclosed regarding the amount or conditions for the victim's release. However, reports from Le Parisien indicated that the kidnappers were asking forbetween 5 and 7 million euros—which remains unpaid.
According to reports, the kidnapped man’s wife had previously informed investigators that both her husband and their son had been threatened before, adding a grim layer to the story. The son manages a cryptocurrency company based in Malta, suggesting a possible motive rooted in the world of digital currency.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of kidnappings in France targeting individuals connected to the cryptocurrency industry. In January, the well-known co-founder of Ledger, David Balland, and his partner were abducted from their home in central France. During the ordeal, Balland’s business partner received a horrific video showing the severed finger of Balland, along with a ransom demand of 10 million euros in cryptocurrency.
Thanks to swift police action, Balland was ultimately rescued, but not without nine individuals being arrested in connection to the crime—some have prior convictions for kidnapping.
Additionally, French police are investigating another kidnapping from December involving the father of a prominent crypto influencer in eastern France, further highlighting the alarming trend within this niche sector.
As the cryptocurrency market continues to grow, the dangers associated with it, including these heinous crimes, are becoming increasingly evident. Law enforcement agencies are now on high alert as they try to tackle and prevent further incidents in a landscape where wealth and privacy may attract unwanted attention.
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