In brief
South Africa’s Hawks police unit handed over six Nigerian suspects linked to the notorious Black Axe ring to U.S. officials. The group allegedly scammed more than 100 U.S. women, stealing over 100 million rand (about $6 million). Victims included pensioners and business people who fell for fake online relationships. The extradition comes after a series of worldwide crackdowns on the gang, which has ties to human trafficking and murder.
South Africa hands over Nigerian romance‑scam suspects to U.S. FBI
South African police have transferred six Nigerians charged with fraud and money‑laundering to U.S. federal authorities Friday. The suspects, arrested in 2021, are part of the criminal organisation Black Axe, which is known for human trafficking, murder and internet scams.
According to Hawks, the group targeted more than 100 women across the United States, defrauding them of roughly 100 million rand (about $6 million). Victims ranged from pensioners to business people, who were misled by sophisticated online relationships.
The extradition will see the men transported from a Cape Town correctional facility to the airport, where they will be handed over to FBI and U.S. Secret Service agents. They will face wire‑fraud and money‑laundering charges once in U.S. custody.
This move follows a broader international crackdown on Black Axe. In 2021, a BBC investigation branded the gang as one of the world’s most dangerous crime groups, and Interpol has since raided dozens of sites linked to their romance‑scam operations.
The extradition underscores the transnational nature of online fraud, as authorities around the world collaborate to dismantle networks that exploit unsuspecting victims.
