France Sees Surge in Crypto Kidnappings: 135 Cases Since 2023, 75 Suspects Detained

French law enforcement has recorded 135 cases of crypto kidnappings since 2023, with suspects increasingly targeting crypto owners and their families to extort Bitcoin and altcoins in exchange for their release. The National Prosecutor’s Office’s organized crime unit, Pnaco, described the trend as a rapidly evolving “phenomenon.”

In 2023, authorities documented just three such cases. By 2024, the number rose to 18, before skyrocketing by 272% in the following year, according to Pnaco.

Structured Networks Exposed

“We’ve identified multiple individuals involved in several cases,” said Vanessa Perrée, head of Pnaco, as reported by Le Parisien. “We have revealed the existence of structured networks.”

This year alone, prosecutors have already identified 47 cases. One of the most recent involved a family of five held at gunpoint. The attackers stole their car and a cold wallet containing $800,000 in cryptocurrency.

Crackdown Yields Arrests and Charges

Pnaco confirmed that ongoing crackdowns have led to significant progress. To date, 88 people, including around a dozen minors, have been charged in 12 active crypto-related kidnapping cases. Of these, 75 suspects remain in pre-trial detention, with most arrests occurring in recent months.

Recent Cases Highlight Criminal Patterns

Prosecutors recently charged three men aged 25 to 30 in connection with a crypto kidnapping reported in November 2024 in Challes-les-Eaux, Savoie Department. Two of the trio are also facing charges in a similar case reported weeks later in Charente-Maritime. All suspects have prior criminal records, Pnaco noted.

In a separate incident, police arrested a 17-year-old boy suspected of kidnapping a woman and her 67-year-old mother to extort cryptocurrency. Authorities found the teen “playing PlayStation games in his family home” days after the attack, according to Le Monde.

The boy and two accomplices allegedly forced the victims into the trunk of their car, leaving traces of blood inside the vehicle. Detectives revealed the trio was “recruited” on Telegram by an individual identifying himself as “Hermano,” meaning “brother” in Spanish. Two suspects were arrested as they attempted to flee to Spain via bus.

Tim Alper is a News Correspondent at DL News. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected]