German authorities have arrested 11 suspected members of the Black Axe, a Nigerian mafia group linked to a major international dating scam. Bavarian police announced the arrests on Wednesday, highlighting the group’s focus on “romance scams” and money laundering in Germany.
Described by police as a “modern form of marriage fraud,” the scam involved the suspects using fake identities to build online relationships with victims. Over time, the fraudsters would feign marriage intentions and repeatedly request money under various pretenses. The ill-gotten gains were then funneled back to Black Axe in Nigeria through “financial agents.”
Authorities also uncovered a “commodity-based money laundering” scheme employed by the gang. This involved purchasing seemingly charitable goods and delivering them to Nigeria to disguise the movement of funds.
The operation’s scale is evident in the statistics reported by Bavarian police. In 2023 alone, the region saw roughly 450 romance scam cases, resulting in damages exceeding €5.3 million ($5.7 million).
The nationwide raids conducted on Tuesday targeted 19 properties, including homes and even asylum shelters. The arrested suspects, all Nigerian citizens between 29 and 53 years old, are believed to belong to a well-organized network.
Police described the Black Axe as a group with “strict hierarchical structures under leadership in Nigeria,” operating through territorial units. The group’s influence reportedly extends beyond criminal activity, with authorities noting its “significant influence” on Nigerian politics and public administration.
Globally, Black Axe is said to be involved in a range of criminal activities including human trafficking, fraud, drug trafficking, and prostitution. Notably, the group allegedly operates under the cover of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, a seemingly charitable organization used to mask the gang’s true nature.
This operation marks the first major law enforcement action against the Black Axe in Germany, signifying a potential escalation in efforts to dismantle the international criminal organization.
