Six Nigerian nationals accused of defrauding more than 100 women in the United States of more than R100 million through online romance scams are being extradited from South Africa to the US on Friday (September 11), reports The Witness.

The Hawks, working with Interpol South Africa, are facilitating the extradition of the six men, who are alleged to be members of the Black Axe organised criminal network.

They are wanted by US authorities on charges of wire fraud and money laundering.

According to the Hawks, the men allegedly targeted more than 100 women, including pensioners and businesspeople, by developing sophisticated online relationships before defrauding them of their money.

The six were arrested in South Africa in 2021 during a major Hawks operation.

They are being transported from a Cape Town correctional facility to Cape Town International Airport, where they are expected to be handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.

The US officials arrived in South Africa on Friday morning, with the formal handover expected to take place during the afternoon.

The Hawks said the extradition demonstrated continued co-operation between South African and international law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational organised crime and ensuring that suspects wanted in other jurisdictions face due legal process.

Further details are expected to emerge following the handover.

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