Why French authorities arrested Telegram CEO

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was reportedly detained at Bourget Airport near Paris on Saturday evening, according to French news outlets TF1 and BFM TV.

Durov, who was travelling on his private jet from Azerbaijan, was arrested under a French warrant related to a preliminary police investigation into Telegram’s alleged role in facilitating criminal activities, reports Reuters.

Telegram did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The French Interior Ministry and police had no comment.

TF1 said Durov had been travelling from Azerbaijan and was arrested at around 20:00 (18:00 GMT).

In separate news, Bitcoinnews.com said Durov, the 39-year-old Franco-Russian, was accompanied by a bodyguard and a woman at the time of his arrest by the Air Transport Gendarmerie.

Durov’s arrest followed his arrival from Azerbaijan and was executed under a French search warrant issued by the OFMIN of the French judicial police, due to his inclusion in the wanted persons file (FPR). The warrant was activated solely upon his presence on French soil. A source close to the investigation told the news outlet, as translated by Google:

“He made a blunder this evening. We don’t know why … Was this flight just a stopover? In any case, he’s in custody!”

Durov has been detained by the National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF). French authorities accuse Telegram of facilitating crimes such as terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and fraud, among others. A source familiar with the investigation further told the French news outlet:

“On his platform, he allowed an incalculable number of offences and crimes to be committed, for which he did nothing to moderate or cooperate,” it added.

The price of toncoin (TON) plummeted following the news. As of writing, TON is trading at $5.96, down 13% from earlier today.