Six Nigerians in South Africa to be extradited to US over R100m romance scam

Six Nigerian nationals arrested in South Africa in 2021 are being extradited to the United States to face charges connected to an online romance scam that allegedly defrauded more than 100 US women of over R100 million, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, announced on Friday.

Who is being handed over and why

Hawks National spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the men are wanted by US authorities on wire fraud and money laundering charges. Mogale said the suspects are alleged members of the Black Axe organised criminal network and that victims included pensioners and businesspeople.

How the extradition will proceed

Mogale said, through coordination with INTERPOL South Africa, the six will be transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport on Friday afternoon, where they will be handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.

She said the US officials arrived in South Africa that morning and that “the formal handover is expected to take place this afternoon.”

Background and law-enforcement cooperation

The six suspects were arrested in South Africa in 2021 “following a major takedown operation conducted by the Hawks/DPCI,” Mogale said. She added that the suspects are alleged to have “targeted more than 100 women in the United States, allegedly defrauding them of more than R100 million through online romance or love scams.”

Mogale described the extradition as an example of co-operation between South African and international law-enforcement agencies. In her words:

“This extradition demonstrates the continued cooperation between South African law enforcement agencies and international law enforcement partners in disrupting transnational organised crime and ensuring that suspects wanted in other jurisdictions face due legal process.”

Next steps

Mogale said she will facilitate media interviews and provide further information on the operation.