KeyTakeaways:
- Mohammed Arsalan was abducted and forced to transfer $340,000 in crypto.
- Seven individuals, including a police officer, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping.
- Experts warn that crypto-related abductions are becoming more frequent globally.
A Pakistani crypto trader, Mohammed Arsalan, was kidnapped on Dec. 25 and forced to transfer $340,000 in crypto from his Binance account. The incident, which involved local law enforcement officers, has led to the arrest of several individuals. According to reports from the Pakistani news outlet Dawn, seven people have been detained, including a police officer.
The trader, aged 30, was abducted after a series of fake transactions where the kidnappers pretended to buy U.S. dollars. Arsalan was forcibly taken by five men in civilian clothing, who gagged him and transported him in a police vehicle. The kidnappers allegedly used their access to law enforcement resources to carry out the crime and pressured Arsalan into paying the ransom in digital assets.
The investigation revealed that an officer from the Pakistani Counter-Terrorism Department was among the arrested individuals. Despite multiple arrests, a suspected policeman remains at large, complicating the ongoing investigation.
These attacks are often targeting individuals with significant crypto holdings, as demonstrated by similar cases in Ukraine and Canada, where high-profile figures were also abducted for ransom in digital currencies.
Arsalan has since expressed his distress on social media, revealing his emotional turmoil following the traumatic experience. He stated that he was ashamed of the situation and emotionally devastated, adding that he no longer wished to receive messages or calls.
The authorities have assured the public that the investigation is ongoing and that the perpetrators, including the corrupt law enforcement officials, will face strict legal consequences.
The case has sparked discussions on the need for enhanced security measures for crypto traders in Pakistan and the importance of protecting digital assets from such criminal activities.
