Seven Held Over Crypto‑Ransom Abduction of Haute‑Savoie Couple as Ain Probe Broadens

Overview

• Seven people are in custody in the Sallanches case under Pnaco authority after the mid‑January kidnapping of a crypto holder’s parents and ransom videos demanding millions in digital currency.
• The 79‑year‑old man and his 71‑year‑old wife were discovered injured on January 16 near a Montélimar nightclub after being held in a nearby apartment identified by investigators.
• Sources say forensic traces were left on the adhesive tape used to gag the victims as inquiries continue into organized extortion, money laundering and criminal association.
• In the separate Ain investigation, five additional suspects were arrested on March 9–10 across several departments, bringing the total to ten people charged, most placed in pre‑trial detention.
• Authorities and multiple outlets report a broader rise since early 2025 in kidnappings targeting families tied to cryptocurrency holdings, often linked to multimillion‑euro demands.