French Gendarmerie Arrests Five in March Crypto-Related Kidnapping and Extortion Case

French national gendarmerie investigators have broken up a violent crypto-related kidnapping and extortion case that took place in March 2026, arresting five suspects in their 20s in Paris, Isère, and Brittany. According to Odaily, two masked men allegedly broke into the home of a 48-year-old woman in Taninges, Haute-Savoie, with knives, bound and beat her for several hours, and tried to steal valuables and crypto assets. The suspects then allegedly attempted to move the victim in her own vehicle, but she escaped and sought help from a neighbor. After custody review, four suspects were formally charged with unlawful confinement and attempted extortion, and three were placed in pretrial detention.