French authorities have arrested five individuals in connection with the violent kidnapping of a man whose son is a Dubai-based influencer and cryptocurrency entrepreneur, prosecutors announced on Saturday, June 21.
The arrests come amid a rising wave of criminal activity targeting figures in the cryptocurrency industry and their families, prompting increased scrutiny and pressure on French law enforcement.
According to prosecutors, the abduction occurred on December 31, 2024, in Saint-Genis-Pouilly, a town in eastern France near the Swiss border. Five armed individuals stormed the home of a man and his wife, attacking the couple and demanding a ransom from their son. The son, described as a high-profile influencer in the crypto space, was not present during the incident.
After failing to obtain the ransom, the assailants abducted the 56-year-old father. He was later discovered several hours and nearly 700 kilometers away, in the boot of a car in the Sarthe department. Authorities said the man had been assaulted and doused with petrol. His wife was found tied up at their home.
In a statement, prosecutor Karine Malara confirmed that five suspects, four adults aged between 18 and 22, and one 17-year-old, were arrested on Tuesday June 17, and formally charged on Friday, June 20, with offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, and aggravated assault.
Three of the adult suspects reportedly have extensive criminal records involving violence, theft, narcotics, currency trafficking, and illegal weapons possession. The minor was previously convicted of aggravated theft.
Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the influencer, citing privacy and security concerns, but described him as widely known in the public sphere for his success in cryptocurrency.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of high-profile crypto-related abductions and attempted kidnappings in France. In May, 25 individuals, including six minors, were charged in connection with a series of such attacks, including an attempted kidnapping of the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of Paymium, a French crypto firm.
Another foiled plot in June involved five men suspected of planning to kidnap a crypto investor and his mother in northern France, allegedly intending to sever the woman’s finger to extort ransom.
Prosecutor Malara noted that, as of now, no direct links have been established between the latest arrests and other recent cases, though investigations are ongoing.
