French National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecution Office: Cryptocurrency-related kidnappings surge, with 88 individuals indicted and 75 in pre-trial detention

Odaily Planet Daily News The French National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecution Office (Pnaco) stated that kidnapping and illegal detention cases involving cryptocurrencies continue to surge. Among the 12 related cases currently under investigation, 88 individuals have been indicted, including over 10 minors, and 75 others are in pre-trial detention.

According to prosecution data, since 2023, French law enforcement agencies have recorded 135 such cases, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 as of now in 2026. The cases often involve violent kidnapping, ransom demands, and forcing victims to transfer crypto assets. The prosecution noted that some suspects have appeared in multiple different cases, indicating the formation of a structured criminal network behind these incidents. The kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland is also regarded as a significant sign of escalating security risks in the French crypto industry. (Lemonde)