On Wednesday, German police said that 11 alleged members of the Nigerian mafia gang responsible for a massive dating fraud had been apprehended.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>
According to a statement from the Bavarian police, the Black Axe gang was active in “multiple areas of criminal activity” abroad, with a particular emphasis on money-laundering and dating scams in Germany.
The fraudsters, according to the police, “used false identities to signal their intention to marry and in the course of further contact repeatedly demand money under various pretexts.”
According to officials, the funds were then sent “via financial agents” to Black Axe in Nigeria.
Throughout, the group purchased and shipped goods to Nigeria under the guise of a “charitable purpose” as part of a “commodity-based money laundering” plan.
Approximately 450 romantic scam incidents had been documented in the Bavarian region in 2023 alone, with losses reaching 5.3 million euros ($5.7 million), according to the police.
The suspects, who were all nationals of Nigeria and ranged in age from 29 to 53, were apprehended on Tuesday after widespread operations around the country.
According to authorities, 19 properties—including residences and shelters for asylum seekers—were raided by law enforcement.
Police said the Black Axe gang operated various territorial sections with “strict hierarchical structures under leadership in Nigeria.”
Particularly in Nigeria, the group had a “significant influence” on public administration and politics.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>
