South African authorities have extradited six Nigerian nationals to the United States to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering over an alleged online romance scam operation.
The extradition was coordinated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, and INTERPOL South Africa.
The suspects were taken from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport, where officials from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service took custody of them.
US authorities allege that the six men were members of the Black Axe criminal network and participated in an operation targeting more than 100 women in the United States.
The alleged victims included pensioners and business owners who were reportedly deceived through online romantic relationships before being defrauded of money.
Prosecutors in the US allege that the operation generated more than R100 million in illicit proceeds.
The suspects were arrested in South Africa in 2021 during a Hawks-led operation targeting suspected members of the criminal network.
They remained in custody in Cape Town while legal proceedings relating to their extradition were completed.
Colonel Katlego Mogale of the Hawks said the operation demonstrated cooperation between South African law enforcement agencies and their international counterparts in tackling organised crime that crosses national borders.
The extradition involved cooperation between South African authorities, INTERPOL, the FBI and the US Secret Service.
The six Nigerians will face the charges against them in the United States.
South Africa Extradites Six Nigerians to US Over Alleged Fraud, Money Laundering
