Six Nigerian nationals have been extradited from South Africa to the United States over allegations that they defrauded more than 100 American women of over R100 million through online romance scams.
Gatekeepers News reports that the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the suspects, who were arrested in Cape Town in 2021, are allegedly members of the Black Axe organised criminal network.
The suspects are wanted by US authorities on allegations of wire fraud and money laundering. They were handed over to officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Secret Service after being transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport.
According to SAPS, the suspects allegedly targeted more than 100 women in the United States through online relationships before defrauding them of more than R100 million. Some of the alleged victims were pensioners and businesspeople.
“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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service,” SAPS spokesperson Katlego Mogale said.
The extradition was facilitated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, popularly known as the Hawks, in collaboration with INTERPOL South Africa.
The arrests followed a major operation by the Hawks in 2021. South African authorities said the case forms part of broader international efforts to tackle organised crime networks involved in cyber-enabled financial fraud.
The US authorities are expected to prosecute the suspects over the alleged offences following their extradition.
