Key facts
- South Africa extradited six Nigerian nationals to the U.S. on Friday.
- The men are suspected members of the Black Axe organized crime network.
- They face wire fraud and money laundering charges.
- The suspects allegedly defrauded over 100 women of more than 100 million rand ($6 million) through online romance scams.
- Victims included pensioners and businesspeople.
- Black Axe is a violent criminal organization involved in financial cybercrime.
South Africa extradited six Nigerian nationals to the United States on Friday, who are suspected members of the Black Axe organized crime network. The group is accused of targeting over 100 women in the U.S. and defrauding them of more than 100 million rand ($6 million) through sophisticated online relationships used for romance scams and cyberfraud. Victims included pensioners and businesspeople.
The six men, arrested in South Africa in 2021, will face wire fraud and money laundering charges upon their arrival in the U.S. Black Axe, which originated as a student fraternity in Nigeria, has evolved into a violent, mafia-style criminal organization operating globally and involved in human trafficking, internet fraud, and murder. Interpol has previously conducted operations against the syndicate, leading to arrests and seizures in multiple countries.