فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Moroccan security authorities in Tangier arrested on Tuesday Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, one of France’s most wanted criminals, suspected of involvement in an organized crime network responsible for kidnappings, extortion, and ransom demands targeting investors in cryptocurrencies on French soil.
In a move underscoring the sovereignty and independence of the Moroccan judiciary, a security source told Reuters that Morocco will not extradite Bajjou to France due to his Moroccan nationality. Instead, he will be tried within Morocco based on charges brought by the French judiciary.
A source close to Moroccan authorities told AFP that the arrest followed an official French request. Bajjou is suspected of masterminding a series of kidnappings in the cryptocurrency world, most notably the abduction of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a company specializing in securing crypto assets.
According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, Bajjou is considered the mastermind behind the kidnapping of David Balland and his partner in January. Balland was tortured and had one of his fingers amputated as a means of extortion, while his partner was later found tied up in the trunk of a car in a suburb of Paris.
French judicial authorities continue to investigate the case. So far, nine suspects have been tried, and 25 additional youths aged between 16 and 23 have been charged for involvement in similar kidnapping attempts in Paris and Nantes during May.
Despite French demands for extradition, a senior Moroccan security official told Reuters that Morocco insists on trying Bajjou domestically according to the charges issued by the French courts.
In the first official French response, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin expressed satisfaction with the arrest via the social media platform X, describing the operation as proof of “strong judicial cooperation between France and Morocco and effective security coordination in combating transnational organized crime.”
French media list Bajjou among the top ten most dangerous French fugitives worldwide due to his criminal record involving kidnappings, extortion, and leading international criminal networks.
This development highlights the depth of security and judicial cooperation between Morocco and France and reaffirms Morocco’s commitment to combating organized crime and safeguarding its national security while respecting its sovereignty and judicial independence.
