Omanghana
Six Nigerian nationals have been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face federal charges related to an alleged multimillion-dollar online romance fraud scheme.
The suspects face charges including wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering following a joint investigation involving South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, popularly known as the Hawks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.
US authorities allege that the defendants belonged to Black Axe, an organised transnational criminal network linked to cyber-enabled financial crimes and romance scams in several countries.
According to federal court documents, the group allegedly targeted more than 100 people across the United States. Many of the victims were reportedly vulnerable individuals, including retirees, pensioners and businesspeople.
Investigators estimate that the alleged scheme caused losses exceeding $6 million, equivalent to more than R100 million.
The suspects were arrested in Cape Town in 2021 during a coordinated law enforcement operation. Their extradition followed several years of legal proceedings before South African courts.
Authorities claim the defendants created fake identities and profiles on dating websites and social media platforms to establish romantic relationships with their victims.
After gaining their trust, the suspects allegedly invented financial emergencies, business opportunities and shipping-related problems to persuade the victims to transfer money.
Following the conclusion of the extradition process, the six men were moved from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport, where they were handed over to FBI and US Secret Service officials for transportation to the United States.
They are expected to appear before a US federal court to answer the charges against them. If convicted of wire fraud or money laundering, each defendant could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years on every count.
Source: Omanghana
