The German police announced on Wednesday the arrest of eleven suspected members of a criminal syndicate from Nigeria, known as the Black Axe, during nationwide raids, as reported by DW.
All eleven suspects are Nigerian citizens, with most having resided in Germany for several years. They are accused of orchestrating dating scams through online platforms, luring victims with promises of marriage, and subsequently defrauding them.
Authorities revealed that the syndicate collaborated with accomplices who facilitated money transfers from Nigeria, acting as “financial agents” in the scam operation.
The crackdown, which targeted 19 properties, is part of Germany’s concerted efforts to combat large-scale dating scams and money laundering within its borders.
This recent enforcement action follows a similar incident two months ago in Thailand, where two Nigerian men and a Thai woman were apprehended in Phuket’s Thalang district for their alleged involvement in a romance scam.
In addition to the arrests, law enforcement seized 50 sachets of cocaine and a digital balance during the raids.
Furthermore, Europol reported that between December 7 and 9, 2023, it arrested 16 individuals as part of an international operation targeting Nigerian criminals involved in various crimes, including drug smuggling, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, and money laundering across the EU and beyond. The operation involved collaboration between law enforcement agencies from Europe, Africa, South America, and North America.