Suspected Black Axe leaders extradited to US face cybercrime charges

Five suspected leaders of the cybercrime syndicate Black Axe were extradited to the US from South Africa. They are accused of advance-fee fraud and romance scams from 2011 to 2021; maximum penalty is up to 20 years for fraud and money laundering.

• Defendants: Perry and Franklin Osagiede, Osariemen Clement, Collins Otugwor, Musa Mudashiru
• Arrested in South Africa in 2021, extradited on September 11, 2026
• Used aliases, social media, dating sites, and VoIP numbers
• Threatened to publish victims' intimate photos if they refused to pay