South Africa Extradites Six Nigerians for Romance Scams

Six Nigerian nationals were extradited from South Africa to the United States on charges of defrauding more than 100 women through online romance scams. The South African Police Service (SAPS) announced the extradition on a post on X, stating that the suspects were arrested in South Africa in 2021 and are believed to be members of the Black Axe organized criminal network.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, collaborated with INTERPOL South Africa to facilitate the extradition. The suspects are wanted by U.S. authorities for wire fraud and money laundering, allegedly defrauding victims of over R100 million.

Colonel Katlego Mogale, a spokesperson for the Hawks, confirmed that the suspects were transferred to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service at Cape Town International Airport. This extradition underscores the cooperation between South African and international law enforcement agencies in addressing transnational organized crime.