Archive · 12 Sep 2026
South Africa to Extradite Six Nigerians Over Romance Scams
South Africa plans to send six Nigerian men to the United States.
Police suspect the men are connected to a group called Black Axe.
The men are accused of using online romance scams to steal money.
More than 100 women were allegedly targeted.
Some victims were pensioners and businesspeople.
Police said the reported losses were more than 100 million rand, or about $6.2 million.
The men were arrested in South Africa in 2021.
They were expected to be handed over to U.S. officials at Cape Town International Airport.
In the United States, they face accusations including wire fraud and money laundering.
South Africa plans to extradite six Nigerian nationals suspected of belonging to the Black Axe organized crime network.
The men allegedly targeted more than 100 women in the United States through online romance scams.
South Africa’s Hawks police unit said reported losses exceeded 100 million rand, or about $6.2 million.
The alleged victims included pensioners and businesspeople, while the suspects face U.S. wire fraud and money-laundering charges.
The six men, arrested in South Africa in 2021, were due to be handed to U.S. officials at Cape Town International Airport.
- Who
- Six Nigerian nationals suspected by South African and U.S. authorities of belonging to Black Axe.
- What
- South Africa plans to extradite the six men to the United States over alleged romance scams and cyberfraud.
- When
- The handover was scheduled for Friday afternoon; the report was dated September 11, but the year was not specified.
- Where
- The handover was scheduled to take place at Cape Town International Airport in South Africa.
- Why
- U.S. authorities seek the men on charges including wire fraud and money laundering.
- Suspects
- Six Nigerian nationals
- Suspected network
- Black Axe
- Reported victims
- More than 100 women in the United States
- Reported losses
- More than 100 million rand, approximately $6.2 million
- Arrests
- The men were arrested in South Africa in 2021
- U.S. charges
- Wire fraud and money laundering
- Handover officials
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service
