South Africa has extradited six Nigerian nationals to the United States over allegations that they defrauded more than 100 women in a romance scam scheme worth more than R100 million.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the suspects are allegedly members of the Black Axe network and are wanted by US authorities on charges including wire fraud and money laundering.
In a statement posted on X on Friday, SAPS said the six men were arrested in South Africa in 2021 following a major operation led by the Hawks, the country’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
The suspects were allegedly involved in romance scams targeting women in the United States, with investigators estimating the losses at more than R100 million.
“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,” SAPS said.
According to the police, the suspects will be handed over to officials from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Secret Service, who arrived in South Africa on Friday.
“The formal handover is expected to take place this afternoon,” the statement added.
The extradition follows a series of cases involving Nigerians accused of committing online financial crimes against victims in the US.
In August, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) extradited two Nigerian nationals, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus, to the United States over allegations of online sexual exploitation and sextortion involving two teenage boys.
US investigators allegedly linked the two men to separate sextortion schemes targeting male minors. The two victims later died by suicide.
The latest extradition highlights continued cooperation between South African, Nigerian and US law-enforcement agencies in investigating and
