Six Black Axe Members Extradited to US Over $6.2M Romance Scam Scheme

On September 11, 2026, South Africa handed six Nigerian nationals to US authorities over alleged membership in the Black Axe crime network. The DOJ says the schemes ran from Cape Town between 2011 and 2021, targeting over 100 women in the US with losses exceeding R100 million (~$6.2 million).

• Extradition took place on September 11, 2026; the six were arrested in 2021
• Charges include wire fraud and money laundering; losses over R100M (~$6.2M)
• South Africa's Hawks say more than 100 US women were targeted, including pensioners
• INTERPOL, the FBI and the US Secret Service took part in the handover