Six Nigerian nationals accused of defrauding more than 100 American women of over $6 million (approximately KSh777 million) through online romance scams are set to be extradited from South Africa to the United States.
The six men were arrested in Cape Town following investigations into an alleged organised criminal network linked to the Black Axe group.
South African police said the suspects will be handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Secret Service before being transported to the United States.
Suspects Accused of Targeting American Women Online
US authorities are expected to charge the six men with wire fraud and money laundering over their alleged involvement in the sophisticated scam network.
Investigators allege that the suspects created elaborate online relationships with their victims before convincing them to send large sums of money.
Among those allegedly targeted were pensioners and businesspeople who were deceived through long-term online interactions.
The alleged scheme highlights the growing use of social media and online dating platforms by organised criminal networks to target victims across international borders.
Black Axe Linked to Online Financial Crimes
Interpol has linked Black Axe and other West African organised crime networks to a range of cyber-enabled financial crimes, including romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and investment scams.
The extradition follows a recent Interpol operation targeting organised criminal networks across West Africa.
The operation resulted in 58 arrests and identified 263 individuals suspected of links to organised crime networks.
The six Nigerian nationals will now face the US justice system, where prosecutors are expected to present evidence supporting the fraud and money-laundering allegations against them.
