Six Nigerian nationals accused of defrauding more than 100 women in the United States of more than R100 million through online romance scams are being extradited from South Africa to the US.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, is working with INTERPOL South Africa to facilitate the extradition on Friday.
The six men are allegedly members of the Black Axe organised criminal network and are wanted by US authorities on charges including wire fraud and money laundering.
According to the Hawks, the suspects allegedly targeted more than 100 women in the US, including pensioners and businesspeople, using sophisticated online relationships to gain their trust before defrauding them of their money.
“The suspects were arrested in South Africa in 2021 during a major takedown operation by the Hawks.
INTERPOL South Africa is coordinating the extradition process.
The six suspects will be transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport, where they are expected to be handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Secret Service,” said
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale.
She said the US law enforcement officials arrived in South Africa on Friday morning, with the formal handover expected to take place later in the afternoon.
