On July 3, a group orchestrated the abduction of a three-year-old boy from a Hong Kong shopping centre, demanding a ransom of 660,000 USDT. This was reported by local media.
The incident was captured on CCTV, showing a man leading the child away while covering his mouth with a cloth.
The kidnappers later contacted the boy’s parents via Telegram, urging them not to involve the police “for the child’s safety.” They demanded the purchase of USDT “on the over-the-counter market” and instructed the parents to send the funds to their wallet.
The case was taken up by officers from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, though it remains unclear who initially informed them of the abduction.
On the morning of July 4, police reported the successful arrest of two suspects and the rescue of the boy. Authorities have yet to release further details.
In April, a Phuket court sentenced five Russians to prison terms for the kidnapping of a Belarusian couple to extort 31 million baht (approximately $845,700) in cryptocurrency.
Previously, a Chinese businessman was abducted from an English golf course. The criminals demanded $15 million in bitcoin as ransom.