Five Black Axe Leaders Extradited to US Over Romance Scam Allegations

Five alleged leaders of the Black Axe criminal organisation have been extradited from South Africa to the US to face charges linked to romance scams, advance-fee fraud and money laundering. The five Nigerian nationals allegedly led the group’s Cape Town zone, formally known as the Neo Black Movement of Africa, and were flown to the US on 11 September 2026. They appeared in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, on 14 September.

According to a superseding indictment cited by the US Department of Justice, the group operated from Cape Town between 2011 and 2021, using social media, dating websites, aliases and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) numbers to target victims in the US. The alleged scripts involved people claiming to be travelling in South Africa who needed money after an unexpected incident, often involving construction work or a crane.

Victims were allegedly persuaded to send money or goods overseas and, in some cases, were threatened with the release of sensitive photographs. Prosecutors also allege that funds were moved through victims’ and other US account holders’ bank accounts, with business entities used to disguise proceeds alongside money from business email compromise.

All five face wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges. Some also face wire fraud and aggravated identity theft counts. The conspiracy charges each carry potential sentences of up to 20 years, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory additional two-year term. The men were arrested in South Africa in 2021. The allegations have not been proven, and all five are presumed innocent. The Justice Department has published a questionnaire for potential victims.