A years-long case is moving across continents, as investigators prepare to hand alleged members of a major cybercrime network to US authorities.
Six Nigerian nationals linked by investigators to an organized crime network will be extradited to the United States. According to South African police, they defrauded American women of more than $6 million through online romance scams.
As informed by CNN
The men were arrested in Cape Town in 2021. On Friday, they are due to be handed over to representatives of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and transported to the United States. There, they will face charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
According to investigators, the suspects were members of the “Black Axe” criminal network. Interpol links the organization to groups responsible for a significant share of cybercrime in the financial sector. Common schemes used by the network include romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and fake investment offers.
South African police believe that members of the network defrauded more than 100 women in the United States. The victims included retirees and businesswomen. The criminals entered into long-term online relationships with them before soliciting money under various pretexts.
Under Interpol’s coordination, the six men will be transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport, where they will be handed over to representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service.
– police spokesperson Katlego Mogale
International operation against cybercrime
Last month, Interpol released the results of an international operation against organized crime in West Africa. As part of the operation, law enforcement officials:
In South Africa, law enforcement officers conducted searches at seven addresses in Johannesburg. The locations were linked to a syndicate that defrauded retirees in English-speaking countries through romance and investment schemes.
During the operation, 39 people were arrested, assets worth $2.67 million were seized, and more than 250 bank accounts were frozen. The extradition of the six suspects to the United States is expected to be the next stage in the investigation into the extensive romance-scam network.
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