Six Nigerian nationals linked by U.S. authorities to an online romance fraud that reportedly took more than $6 million from American women were extradited from South Africa to the United States on Friday.
South African police confirmed the extradition and local media reported that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, handed the suspects over to U.S. officials at Cape Town International Airport. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service received the group with coordination from Interpol South Africa.
The six are accused of operating as part of an organised criminal network commonly described in law-enforcement reports as Black Axe. U.S. authorities have in recent years tied members and affiliates of the group to a range of transnational crimes; in this instance the allegation centers on online romance schemes that targeted victims in the United States.
Under the terms of the extradition, the individuals were transported to the United States to face federal proceedings. Prosecutors in the receiving jurisdiction are expected to present formal charges and evidence relating to the alleged fraud, and the defendants will have the opportunity to respond in court.
Online romance scams typically involve creating false identities or profiles to cultivate trust with victims and then soliciting money under false pretences. Authorities in multiple countries have stepped up cross-border cooperation in recent years to disrupt these networks and accelerate the transfer of suspects to jurisdictions where victims live and where prosecutions are pursued.
The Hawks and Interpol did not release the names of the suspects or further operational details at the time of the handover. Further information on the charges and the progress of the U.S. case is expected as court filings and statements from U.S. prosecutors become available.