A cryptocurrency exchange owner was allegedly abducted at gunpoint in Toronto and pressured to access crypto assets and business security systems. Toronto police say seven men were arrested and face a combined 82 charges. The available police statements do not confirm that any cryptocurrency was transferred.
- The alleged kidnapping took place July 25, 2026, in North York.
- Police say the victim was handcuffed, assaulted and later released.
- Three accused were identified as Canadian Armed Forces members.
- Police also reported seizing firearms, drugs and more than 2, 700 rounds of ammunition.
Police allege victim was targeted for crypto access
According to the Toronto Police Service, the victim was walking to a car near Finch Avenue East and Bayview Avenue when he was taken against his will. Police say the suspects held him at gunpoint, handcuffed and assaulted him, then tried to access his cryptocurrency assets and business-related security systems.
Police said the victim was released after being threatened and warned not to contact them. Neither the victim nor the exchange has been publicly identified in the police information reviewed. Police have not said which assets or security systems were targeted, or how the suspects allegedly tried to access them.
There is an important distinction here: police describe an alleged attempt to gain access, not a confirmed crypto theft. The public information does not identify the victim’s custody arrangements or establish whether any funds moved.
Seven accused face 82 charges combined
In an announcement dated October 14, 2026, Toronto police said seven men had been arrested and 82 criminal charges laid in total. The charges vary among the accused. The figure of 82 is the combined total, not the number faced by each man. Police list kidnapping for ransom and forcible confinement among the charges. The available police statement does not support adding “with a firearm” to the kidnapping charge label.
CityNews identified the accused as Saiefeddine Adem, 22; Raheem Bishop-Jackson, 24; Talarambage Fernando, 22; James Moreau, 29; Christian Darbandi, 39; Jack Miley, 24; and Suhaib Alekozai, 39. CityNews reported that Adem and Bishop-Jackson were arrested within 24 hours of the alleged abduction, Fernando, Moreau and Darbandi on August 11, and Miley and Alekozai on September 24. Police said all seven had been arrested by September 24.
The allegations have not been tested in court. An arrest or charge is not a finding of guilt.
Military affiliations and ammunition seizure
Toronto police said three of the accused were Canadian Armed Forces members: Fernando, Moreau and Miley. CityNews, citing information from the Department of National Defence, reported that Fernando joined the reserves in January 2020 and had never deployed. Moreau joined the reserves in March 2018 and deployed in 2020 on Operation Laser during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the report. The supplied reporting does not detail Miley’s service history.
Those affiliations provide relevant background, but they do not explain why the alleged crime occurred or establish that military service played a role.
Police said the investigation widened beyond the alleged kidnapping after searches across the Greater Toronto Area. The Toronto Police Service reported seizing four firearms, two silencers, ten over-capacity magazines and more than 2, 700 rounds of ammunition. Police also reported recovering methamphetamine, cocaine and other controlled substances, as well as items including GPS tracking devices, portable radios, handcuffs, a balaclava, knives and hatchets.
Toronto police said approximately 2, 500 rounds of ammunition and five over-capacity magazines had been stolen from the Canadian Armed Forces. That figure is separate from the more than 2, 700 rounds seized. Police have not said whether the allegedly stolen ammunition and magazines were among the items recovered. The seizure list describes what investigators say they found, but it does not by itself establish that each item was connected to the alleged kidnapping.
Key questions and answers
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Was cryptocurrency stolen?
The police statements reviewed do not confirm a transfer. They allege the suspects tried to access the victim’s crypto assets and business security systems. -
How many people were charged?
Seven men were arrested, and police reported 82 charges in total. The charges vary among the accused. -
Were military members among the accused?
Yes. Three were identified as Canadian Armed Forces members. The available information does not establish that their service caused or enabled the alleged crime. -
What security details have police disclosed?
Police have not identified the victim’s custody setup, the specific systems targeted or the alleged method of access. Any claim about whether the victim used an exchange account, a personal wallet or another arrangement would be speculation.
The case highlights a limit of digital security: technical protections can reduce the risk of unauthorized access, but they cannot remove the danger of physical coercion. The public record describes an alleged attempt to reach crypto assets, but leaves the security setup and whether any assets were accessed unresolved. The broader threat of violent wrench attacks targeting crypto holders shows why that distinction matters.
