While being held captive in a Spanish apartment, a British cryptocurrency broker made a desperate escape by jumping from a 30-foot balcony after alerting police through a cleverly disguised phone call.
The incident occurred on February 8, 2025, in Estepona, Spain, where three British suspects lured the crypto trader to an apartment and demanded €30,000 from clients’ accounts. The kidnappers threatened to torture and kill the victim if he didn’t comply with their demands. The perpetrators used clever deceptive tactics to get the victim to the location. Similar incidents have been reported worldwide, including a case where a crypto wallet CEO named David Balland lost a finger during a ransom demand.
The victim devised an ingenious escape plan by making a phone call to a friend in London, pretending to speak with a customer. Speaking in Hindi, he communicated his dire situation without alerting his captors. The friend contacted the victim’s mother, who promptly alerted Spanish authorities.
As police arrived at the apartment complex, the trader seized the moment of distraction to attempt his escape. He tried climbing down the 30-foot balcony but fell during the attempt, breaking both ankles upon impact. Spanish police witnessed the fall and immediately transported him to a local hospital for treatment.
A search of the apartment revealed substantial evidence against the kidnappers. Police discovered €10,000 in cash, two firearms, three knives, and a money counter. Additionally, authorities seized 25 grams of pink cocaine from the premises.
The three British suspects were arrested at the scene and have been remanded into custody. They face multiple charges, including kidnapping, wounding, weapons possession, and drug trafficking. The severity of the charges reflects the violent nature of the crime and the additional illegal items found in their possession.
The victim’s quick thinking and resourceful use of Hindi during the phone call proved essential in alerting authorities to his location. Despite suffering serious injuries from the fall, his desperate escape attempt, combined with timely police intervention, prevented what could have been a more tragic outcome.
The case highlights the increasing risks faced by cryptocurrency professionals and the lengths criminals will go to exploit the digital currency market.
