A fugitive wanted for kidnapping a crypto boss and his wife as part of a terrifying ransom ordeal has been arrested on the Costa del Sol.

The 24-year-old was wanted by French authorities for his alleged involvement in the abduction of David Balland, co-founder of Ledger, a cryptocurrency wallet provider.

The incident occurred in January last year, when Balland and his wife were ambushed by a trio of gun-toting thugs in balaclavas at their home in Mereau, near Vierzon.

To pressure Balland’s associates into paying a €10 million ransom, the kidnappers amputated one of his fingers.

French elite forces eventually freed Balland after approximately 48 hours in captivity in a house in Châteauroux, while his wife was found in the trunk of a car in a parking lot south of Paris.

The operation, however, left a loose end, as one of the members of the organisation managed to escape and sought refuge in Spain.

Investigators from the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil first located him in the province of Valencia, where he was living with his partner and a friend.

‘The three of them led a fairly discreet life and stayed in apartments rented through online platforms, paying with a bank card belonging to a fourth person to cover all expenses,’ they explained.

They then moved to Sevilla, where they lived with relatives, later to Cadiz, and finally to Benalmadena, where they were located and arrested at the end of last week.

A large police operation was deployed between Torremolinos and Benalmadena for their arrest, transfer, and custody, given ‘the possibility that the criminal organisation to which he belonged might attempt to free him.’

Video footage of a helicopter swooping low in the area was widely shared on social media.

A huge convoy of Policia Nacional vehicles were also pictured, leading residents to speculate that authorities were ‘definitely looking for someone.’

Police at the time only confirmed that a French national had been arrested, with the full details being released almost a week later.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.