French police arrest 12 suspects involved in a cryptocurrency kidnapping plot

Crypto World News: Lyon police in France have arrested 12 suspects linked to a cryptocurrency kidnapping plot from August last year. Previously, about 150 armed law enforcement officers raided a building near Valence train station in Drôme on August 31, 2025, rescuing a 22-year-old Swiss man who had been kidnapped for four days. The kidnappers demanded ransom paid in cryptocurrency, and the victim was subjected to severe abuse and injuries during captivity. Authorities stated that the arrests are the result of months of investigation, and approximately 20 individuals have been identified and involved. On the day of the operation, one mastermind and two others were arrested; in early September, seven more people were detained, six aged between 24 and 30, and one under 18. Prosecutors have charged these individuals with kidnapping, illegal detention, organized crime, extortion, illegal possession of weapons, and conspiracy. On March 2, police launched another large-scale operation, arresting 18 people, three of whom remain in custody. Additionally, Versailles police are pursuing three suspects who impersonated police officers and used knives to rob a couple of Bitcoin worth $1 million. From July 2023 to the end of 2025, French authorities have handled 40 cryptocurrency-related kidnapping cases.