French police successfully executed a raid over the weekend to rescue a man who had been kidnapped in Paris as part of a ransom scheme targeting his son, a wealthy cryptocurrency investor. The operation led to the arrest of five individuals connected to the abduction. Details surrounding the case revealed that the victim was taken from the 14th arrondissement and held against his will as leverage for a ransom demand.
The kidnapping occurred on a Thursday morning when the victim was forcibly taken by four masked men who bundled him into a delivery van. Witnesses noted the chaotic scene, but the police managed to trace the location of the victim to an address in Essonne, a region located south of Paris. Acting on this information, authorities conducted a late-night raid to secure his release and apprehend the suspects involved.
Ransom of some $7.9 million
Prosecutors have not disclosed the identity of the victim but confirmed his connection to a man who has amassed wealth in the cryptocurrency market. The ransom demand reportedly ranged between five million and seven million euros, approximately $5.7 million to $7.9 million.
Officials stated that no ransom payment was made, which may have influenced the timing of the police intervention. A source close to the investigation told AFP alarming details, indicating that one of the victim’s fingers had been severed during captivity. This gruesome act raised serious concerns about the potential for further mutilations if law enforcement had not intervened promptly. The urgency of the situation underscored the risks associated with such kidnapping cases.
Initially, four suspects were arrested, but the number was later increased to five after police detained an additional individual who was believed to be driving a vehicle linked to the crime. All five suspects are reportedly in their 20s, reflecting a concerning trend of youth involvement in serious criminal activities.
Shogun Lin
