Six Nigerians face US extradition over R100m romance scam in South Africa

SIX Nigerian nationals arrested in South Africa in 2021 are being extradited to the United States over alleged wire fraud and money laundering linked to a romance scam targeting more than 100 womenU

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Friday that the suspects allegedly defrauded victims in the US of more than R100 million.

The suspects are also alleged to be members of the Black Axe network, according to SAPS. They were arrested during a major operation by the Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, in 2021.

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SAPS said INTERPOL South Africa coordinated the extradition process, with the suspects scheduled to be moved from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport.

They will be handed over to officials of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Secret Service.

“The formal handover is expected to take place this afternoon,” SAPS said.

The case involves allegations that the suspects used romance scams to defraud women in the US, with the total proceeds estimated at more than R100 million.

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The extradition is the latest case involving Nigerian nationals accused of internet-enabled financial crimes being transferred to the US to face prosecution.

In August, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) extradited two Nigerians to the US over alleged online sexual exploitation and sextortion involving two teenage boys who later died by suicide.

The FBI had allegedly linked Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus to separate sextortion schemes targeting male minors.