French authorities successfully freed a man abducted in Paris in an operation aimed at extorting a multi-million euro ransom from his son, a cryptocurrency millionaire, prosecutors confirmed. The victim, whose identity remains confidential, was held captive for two days before police located him in a residence in Essonne, a suburb south of Paris, and launched a late-night raid on Saturday to secure his release.
The father was kidnapped Thursday morning in Paris’s 14th arrondissement by four masked men who forced him into a delivery van, witnesses reported. The kidnappers demanded a ransom reportedly between €5 million and €7 million (approximately $5.7 million to $7.9 million), intending to pressure the crypto-wealthy son to pay. During captivity, the victim suffered brutal treatment, including the severing of one finger-a tactic believed to coerce compliance. Authorities feared further mutilations if they had delayed intervention.
Five suspects, all in their twenties, were arrested in connection with the case. Four were apprehended near the location where the victim was held, and a fifth was detained while driving a vehicle believed to have been used in the abduction. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau praised the “decisive” police operation on social media, highlighting the swift response.
The victim and his son jointly own a cryptocurrency marketing firm based in Malta and had reportedly been subjected to threats prior to the kidnapping, according to police sources. This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of kidnappings targeting individuals linked to the crypto industry in France.
Earlier this year, on January 21, David Balland, co-founder of the crypto wallet company Ledger valued at over $1 billion, and his partner were similarly abducted. Balland also had a finger amputated by his captors, who demanded a hefty ransom in cryptocurrency. Police freed Balland the next day, and his partner was later found tied up in a car trunk in Essonne. Nine suspects, including a 26-year-old with a prior kidnapping record, are under investigation in that case.
In another January case, a 56-year-old man was found in the trunk of a car near Le Mans. Media reports indicated he was the father of a Dubai-based crypto influencer known for flaunting his earnings online, and a ransom demand was involved.
These incidents underscore a growing trend of violent crimes targeting the cryptocurrency sector in France, prompting heightened law enforcement focus on protecting individuals involved in digital asset enterprises.
