Key Points:
- French authorities have charged 25 individuals, including six minors, due to their involvement in crypto-related kidnappings in Paris.
- The focus is on the attempted kidnapping of the family of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of crypto exchange Paymium, which took place on May 13.
French law enforcement has accused 25 people, among them six minors, of participating in a series of kidnappings linked to cryptocurrencies in Paris. The investigation primarily zeroes in on the failed kidnapping attempt involving the family of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of crypto exchange Paymium. This incident reportedly occurred on May 13.
The case has drawn attention due to its ties to other unsuccessful kidnapping plots, including a previous attempt on Noizat’s family, as well as a thwarted abduction near Nantes last Monday.
These allegations are part of a disturbing trend of prominent crypto kidnappings reported in France this year. An alarming incident in May involved the abduction of the father of a French crypto millionaire, while earlier in the year, David Ballard, a co-founder of crypto-wallet developer Ledger, was kidnapped alongside his spouse, and both were subjected to severe violence during their ordeal.
In response to these troubling events, France’s Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau convened a meeting in May with crypto industry representatives to discuss strategies for enhancing safety measures for stakeholders.
The arrested individuals range in age from 16 to 23, with six being minors. Most suspects are native to France, though three hail from Senegal, Angola, and Russia. Legal counsel Ambroise Vienet-Legué, representing an 18-year-old suspect involved in the Nantes incident, remarked on the youthful demographics of the suspects, suggesting they were drawn into this life by financial incentives.
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