Six Nigerian nationals accused of running an organized criminal network are being extradited to the United States. They allegedly swindled American women out of over $6 million through online romance scams. South African police confirmed their extradition will occur on Friday.
The individuals were arrested in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2021. On Friday, they will be handed over to Federal Bureau of Investigation officials and transported to the U.S. to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The accused belong to the criminal network known as Black Axe. Interpol describes it as part of larger groups involved in global cyber-enabled financial frauds. This includes frauds involving romance scams, cryptocurrency, and investment scams.
Two years ago, a Black Axe leader was extradited to the U.S. for conspiracy related to internet scams and money laundering. The current group allegedly defrauded over 100 U.S. women through online romance scams, police reports indicate. Their victims included pensioners and businesspeople, targeted through complex online relationships.
Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale stated the extradition will involve transporting the accused from a Cape Town correctional facility to Cape Town International Airport, where FBI and U.S. Secret Service officials will receive them.
Interpol’s recent operation focused on West African organized crime, resulting in 58 arrests and identification of 263 suspects linked to similar crimes. South African authorities raided seven locations in Johannesburg tied to a syndicate running romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries. This led to 39 arrests, seizure of $2.67 million, and freezing of over 250 bank accounts.
In 2023, more than 64,000 Americans lost over $1 billion to romance scams, double the figure from four years earlier, according to the Federal Trade Commission. A CBS News investigation in 2024 revealed a romance scam operation in Ghana, targeting Americans, as confirmed by a syndicate boss known as Voodu.