In Paris, prosecutors have charged 25 individuals, including six minors, in connection with a series of kidnappings and attempted abductions targeting prominent figures in France’s cryptocurrency sector. As per the Paris public prosecutor’s office, the suspects, aged between 16 and 23, face serious implications following their involvement in plots described as “attempted kidnapping by an organised gang.”
The investigation focuses on a high-profile attempted abduction on 13 May involving Pierre Noizat, CEO of the cryptocurrency platform Paymium, and his family, which occurred in broad daylight in eastern Paris. Authorities revealed they had also thwarted additional kidnapping schemes, including an initial attempt the preceding day and a separate plot near Nantes.
Video footage on social media depicted masked assailants attacking Noizat’s daughter, husband, and their child, leading to minor injuries requiring hospital treatment. Noizat commended the bravery of his son-in-law and an individual who intervened with a fire extinguisher to repel the attackers.
The crackdown on the kidnapping attempts has resulted in over 20 arrests, with most suspects being of French nationality, while others hail from Senegal, Angola, and Russia. Legal representatives of some young suspects argue that their clients were drawn into these criminal activities due to financial motives and express regret regarding their involvement. One lawyer highlighted the age of the defendants, advocating for the considerations of protections available to minors.
These events have raised alarms regarding the safety of affluent cryptocurrency individuals amidst a concerning trend of abductions beginning with the January kidnapping of David Balland, co-founder of the crypto firm Ledger. In that incident, Balland was tortured, his finger severed, before his swift release the following day, while his partner was found bound in a car outside Paris.
The spike in criminal activities aiming at the wealthy cryptocurrency community has prompted emergency discussions between the interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, and industry leaders, with the government pledging to enhance security measures to protect high-net-worth individuals in the cryptocurrency space. The ongoing legal proceedings and investigations into these severe crimes have turned into a significant embarrassment for French authorities, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety protocols for this burgeoning sector.