German police announced the arrest of 11 suspected Nigerian members of the notorious criminal syndicate known as the Black Axe. The arrests were made during coordinated operations across the country, local media reported.
The Black Axe, a secret group that is operational in many Nigerian educational institutions and political groups, has gained notoriety for its involvement in criminal activities.
According to Bavarian police, their primary focus in Germany revolves around romance scams and money laundering.
“Using false identities, the fraudsters for example signalled their intention to marry and in the course of further contact repeatedly demand money under various pretexts,” the Bavarian police statement said on Wednesday.
Globally, the gang’s criminal portfolio includes human trafficking, fraud, money laundering, prostitution, and drug trafficking, police said.
Raids in four states
The raids on Tuesday morning, conducted by over 330 officers, targeted properties in four German states: Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and Hamburg. Investigators seized data storage devices, emphasizing their concern over suspected internet fraud and money laundering.
The suspects, all Nigerian citizens, have spent significant time in Germany. Their ages range from 29 to 53.
The Black Axe is estimated to have 30,000 members worldwide.
German authorities say the deception tactics employed by these scammers constitute a modern form of marriage fraud. Additionally, Black Axe wields considerable influence in Nigerian politics and public administration.
Learn More
Police said the dating scammers created fake social media and dating profiles to gain their victims’ trust. They promised marriage but then asked for money and transferred the funds to a criminal group in Nigeria, using middlemen according to authorities.
In Bavaria alone in 2023, there were 450 dating scams, resulting in losses of about 5.3 million euros (around $5.7 million).
A cross-border crackdown on West African criminal organizations by Interpol in August 2023 led to 103 arrests, identification of 1100 suspects and the seizure of over EUR 2 million.
Twenty-one countries, including Nigeria and United States, took part in the investigation, dubbed “Operation Jackal”.
Discover more from Pluboard
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.