News Desk Reporter
It started with online conversations that appeared to be genuine relationships.
But US authorities say that the men behind those relationships were using them to gain the trust of victims before taking their money.
Six Nigerian nationals wanted in the United States over an alleged online romance scam have now been extradited from South Africa.
The men were handed over to US officials on Thursday after a lengthy legal process that followed their arrests in South Africa in 2021.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the extradition was carried out through cooperation between the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and INTERPOL South Africa.
“The six men were extradited to the United States of America following a successful collaboration between the Hawks and INTERPOL South Africa,” Mogale said.
The men are Perry Osagiede, Collins Owhofsa Otughwor, Osariemen Eric Clement, Musa Mudashiri, Franklyn Edosa Osagiede and Prince Ibeabuchi Mark.
They are wanted in the US on charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
US authorities allege that the six were members of the Black Axe organised criminal network and targeted victims through online romance or love scams.
More than 100 women are alleged to have been targeted, with losses estimated at more than R100 million.
Mogale said the victims included pensioners and businesspeople who were drawn into sophisticated online relationships.
“More than 100 women were allegedly targeted and defrauded of more than R100 million through online romance or love scams,” she confirmed.
The men were among eight Nigerian nationals arrested in South Africa in 2021 during a major Hawks operation.
The other two suspects were Enorense Izevbiege and Toriseju Gabriel Otubu.
In February 2024, the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court ruled that the suspects could be extradited to the US.
The legal process continued after the ruling. Izevbiege was eventually extradited to the US, while Otubu was granted R210,000 bail with conditions.
The latest extradition was coordinated with the help of INTERPOL South Africa.
Mogale said the men were taken from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport.
They were then handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.
“The six were transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport, where they were handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service,” she said.
They then embarked on a 16-hour flight to the US.
Mogale said the case demonstrated the importance of law enforcement agencies working across borders when dealing with organised crime.
“This extradition demonstrates the continued cooperation between South African law enforcement agencies and international law enforcement partners in disrupting transnational organised crime,” she said.
She said the cooperation also ensures that suspects wanted in other countries face due legal process in those jurisdictions.
The men are expected to face the US legal process in connection with the charges against them.