German Police Arrest 11 Nigerian Black Axe Members

Eleven Nigerian nationals have been arrested by German Police on suspicion of being part of the Black Axe group responsible for a massive dating scam and money laundering.

In a statement released on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the Bavarian police said that the gang was active in “multiple areas of criminal activity” abroad, with a particular emphasis on money laundering and dating scams in Germany.

The German police said the dating trick was a “modern form of marriage fraud”, adding that “Using false identities, the fraudsters for example signalled their intention to marry and in the course of further contact repeatedly demand money under various pretexts.”

The money was then moved “via financial agents” to Black Axe in Nigeria, according to the police.

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Authorities claim that during this process, the gang purchased goods, frequently purporting to have a “charitable purpose,” and had them shipped to Nigeria as part of a “commodity-based money laundering” operation.

According to police, there were 450 reports of dating and love scams in the Bavaria region in 2023, resulting in damages of 5.3 million euros ($ 5.7 million).

The suspects, who were all nationals of Nigeria and ranged in age from 29 to 53, were reportedly taken into custody on Tuesday during nationwide raids, according to the police, who also stated that the agents raided 19 properties, including residences and shelters for asylum seekers.

The police went on to say that the Black Axe gang operated in several geographical units and had “strict hierarchical structures under leadership in Nigeria.”

They also emphasised that the group had a “significant influence” on public administrations and politics, particularly in Nigeria.

According to reports, the group primarily engaged in “human trafficking, fraud, money-laundering, prostitution, and drug trafficking” on a global scale.

According to the police, this was Germany’s first operation of its kind against Black Axe.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli