Six Nigerian nationals accused of defrauding more than 100 American women of over $6m through online romance scams are being extradited from South Africa to the United States.
The suspects, who were arrested in Cape Town in 2021, are expected to be handed over to officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Secret Service before being transported to the US to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
South African police said the six men were allegedly members of the Black Axe criminal network, which Interpol has linked to organised cyber-enabled financial crimes, including romance, cryptocurrency and investment scams.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly used online relationships to deceive more than 100 women in the United States, causing losses exceeding $6m. Some of those targeted were pensioners and business owners who were reportedly drawn into sophisticated online relationships.
“Through the coordination of Interpol South Africa, the six will today be transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport, where they will be handed over to officials from the FBI and the United States Secret Service, who arrived in South Africa this morning,” police spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, said.
The extradition comes amid an international crackdown on West African organised crime groups.
Interpol said a recent operation resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects connected to various criminal networks involved in similar offences.
In South Africa, authorities also raided seven locations in Johannesburg linked to a syndicate accused of operating romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries.
Police arrested 39 people, seized $2.67m and froze more than 250 bank accounts during the operation, according to Interpol.
