Six Nigerian nationals accused of being involved in an international romance-scam operation have been extradited from South Africa to the United States, where they are expected to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The suspects were arrested in Cape Town in 2021 following a major investigation into an alleged fraud network. South African authorities say the men were wanted by US law-enforcement agencies over claims that more than 100 American women were defrauded of more than R100 million through online romance or “love” scams.
According to the Hawks, the suspects are allegedly linked to Black Axe, a Nigerian-founded organised criminal network that has been associated by international law-enforcement agencies with cyber-enabled financial crimes. Authorities say the group has been linked to various forms of fraud, including romance scams, investment schemes and money laundering.
The alleged victims reportedly included pensioners and businesspeople. Investigators believe the suspects used sophisticated online relationships to gain the trust of victims before allegedly persuading them to send money or other valuable items.
The extradition was coordinated by South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, together with INTERPOL South Africa. On Friday, the suspects were transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport.
At the airport, they were handed over to officials from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Secret Service, who had travelled to South Africa to facilitate the transfer.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed that the six men had left South Africa and were being taken to the United States to face the allegations against them.
The extradition highlights the growing cooperation between South African and international law-enforcement agencies in tackling organised crime that operates across national borders.
The case also forms part of a broader international effort to disrupt West African criminal networks involved in online fraud and money laundering. INTERPOL has recently reported operations targeting organised crime groups involved in cyber-enabled financial crimes across several countries.
South African authorities have also taken action against other alleged fraud networks. In a recent operation in Johannesburg, police raided several locations allegedly connected to romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries. Dozens of suspects were arrested, while millions of dollars were seized or frozen in bank accounts.
The extradition of the six suspects now places the case under the jurisdiction of US authorities, where they will face the legal process related to the allegations.
Authorities stress that the men are suspects and that the allegations have not yet been proven in court. They are entitled to due process and are presumed innocent unless convicted.
The case serves as another example of how online romance scams can cross borders, with criminals allegedly using digital platforms to establish relationships with victims before exploiting their trust for financial gain.
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