German police on Wednesday arrested 11 suspected members of a Nigerian mafia group behind a large-scale dating scam.
The group, identified as the Black Axe gang, stands accused of orchestrating a large-scale dating scam that targeted individuals in Germany. The arrests come after a thorough investigation into the gang’s operations, which encompassed various criminal activities including money laundering and human trafficking.
The Black Axe gang’s modus operandi involved using false identities to initiate romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims. Once trust was established, the fraudsters would then manipulate their targets into sending money under false pretenses
These ill-gotten funds were funneled back to Nigeria through a complex network of financial agents, utilizing commodity-based money laundering technique
The impact of the gang’s activities has been substantial, with Bavarian police reporting over 450 cases of romance scamming in 2023 alone, resulting in damages totaling 5.3 million euros ($5.7 million). The arrests were made following nationwide raids on Tuesday, during which law enforcement officers targeted 19 properties, including homes and asylum shelter
According to authorities, the Black Axe gang operates under strict hierarchical structures, with leadership based in Nigeria overseeing different territorial units. The group’s influence extends beyond criminal activities, with significant involvement in politics and public administrations in Nigeria.
The Black Axe gang operated under the guise of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, posing as a charitable organization to conceal their illicit operation.