6 Nigerian Nationals Extradited from South Africa to U.S. Over $6M Romance Scams

Six Nigerian nationals linked to an organized criminal network are being extradited to the United States from South Africa to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The men, who were arrested in Cape Town in 2021, were handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Secret Service at Cape Town International Airport. According to South African police, the suspects are alleged members of the Black Axe, a group described by Interpol as being responsible for a significant share of global cyber-enabled financial fraud.

Authorities state that the network targeted more than 100 women in the U.S., defrauding them of over $6 million through sophisticated online romance scams. The alleged victims included pensioners and businesspeople. South African police spokesperson Katlego Mogale confirmed that the suspects were transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to the airport for transfer to American officials.

The extradition aligns with broader international enforcement efforts against West African organized crime groups. A recent Interpol operation resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects linked to financial fraud networks. As part of these operations, South African authorities raided seven locations in Johannesburg, arresting 39 people, seizing $2.67 million, and freezing more than 250 bank accounts tied to romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries.