In brief
South African law enforcement has extradited six Nigerians tied to the Black Axe syndicate to the U.S. Authorities allege the men targeted over 100 American women, defrauding them of more than 100 million rand (roughly $6 million). The fugitives were captured in 2021 while serving time in Cape Town and will be transferred to an airport for handover to FBI and Secret Service agents. Upon arrival they will face charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The move follows a series of global operations that have disrupted the Black Axe network across continents.
South African police have handed over six Nigerians, suspected members of the Black Axe criminal syndicate, to the FBI for extradition. The men are accused of targeting more than 100 women in the United States, defrauding them of over 100 million rand (about $6 million).
They were arrested in 2021 and are said to belong to a syndicate linked to human trafficking, internet fraud, and murder. The Hawks unit says victims included pensioners and businesspeople who were lured through sophisticated online relationships.
On Friday the fugitives will be moved from a correctional facility in Cape Town to an airport where FBI and United States Secret Service officials will take custody. After arrival in the U.S. they will face wire‑fraud and money‑laundering charges.
More on the Black Axe Network: The group operates across Africa, Europe and North America, and has been a focus of multi‑country law‑enforcement operations since 2019.
