Six Nigerian nationals have been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face prosecution over their alleged involvement in a multi-million-dollar online romance scam that reportedly targeted American women.
South African authorities announced on Friday, September 11, 2026, that the suspects, who were arrested in Cape Town in 2021, were handed over to officials of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Secret Service for transfer to America.
The men are accused of belonging to the Black Axe criminal network, which international law enforcement agencies have linked to cyber-enabled financial crimes, including romance, investment and cryptocurrency scams.
According to South African police, the suspects allegedly defrauded more than 100 women in the United States of over $6 million by cultivating deceptive online romantic relationships with their victims.
Many of the affected individuals were reported to be pensioners and business owners.
Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said Interpol South Africa coordinated the transfer of the suspects from a correctional facility in Cape Town to the airport, where they were formally handed over to American law enforcement officials.
The extradition forms part of a broader international crackdown on organised cybercrime networks operating across Africa and other regions.
Interpol recently disclosed that an operation targeting West African criminal syndicates led to the arrest of 58 people and the identification of 263 suspects linked to various forms of online fraud and money laundering.
As part of the operation, South African authorities raided several locations in Johannesburg allegedly connected to romance and investment scams targeting retirees in English-speaking countries.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 39 suspects and the freezing of about $2.67 million in bank accounts.
The six Nigerians are expected to face charges including wire fraud and money laundering upon their arrival in the United States.
