Six Nigerian nationals accused of participating in a large-scale online romance scam have been extradited from South Africa to the United States. The group, which authorities link to the Black Axe criminal network, is alleged to have swindled more than 100 American victims—including businesspeople and retirees—out of over $6 million.
The suspects, who were initially apprehended in Cape Town in 2021, face formal charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Following their extradition on Friday, they were handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Secret Service, who arrived in South Africa earlier that morning to oversee the transfer.
The operation was facilitated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, in close coordination with Interpol South Africa. Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale confirmed that the individuals were transported from a Cape Town correctional facility to the airport to be processed for transit to the U.S.
The Black Axe network is identified by Interpol as a significant source of global cyber-enabled financial crime, with activities ranging from cryptocurrency and investment schemes to sophisticated love scams. The arrests follow broader multinational efforts to dismantle West African organized crime groups. Just last month, a separate Interpol-led operation resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects.
During that specific campaign, South African authorities conducted raids across seven locations in Johannesburg, focusing on syndicates targeting retirees in English-speaking nations. The operation successfully led to the arrest of 39 individuals, the seizure of $2.67 million in assets, and the freezing of over 250 bank accounts, marking a significant blow to cross-border financial fraud networks. The report also notes that the men are alleged to have targeted more than 100 women in the US, defrauding them of more than $6m through online romance or love scams, according to South African police. The report also notes that identify high-value targets, seize assets, and support arrests and prosecution, the operation aimed to disrupt money laundering.