Five individuals, identified as alleged leaders of the Black Axe cybercrime syndicate, have been extradited to the United States to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The defendants, Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede, Osariemen Clement, Collins Otughwor, and Musa Mudashiru, are accused of orchestrating an internet fraud campaign from Cape Town, South Africa, between 2011 and 2021.
The alleged scheme involved advance fee and romance scams. Prosecutors claim the individuals used various aliases, social media platforms, online dating websites, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone numbers to contact victims in the United States. They are accused of manipulating victims into believing they were in romantic relationships to solicit money. When victims hesitated, the alleged perpetrators reportedly resorted to coercion, including threats to publish sensitive photos online.
The defendants were initially arrested in South Africa in 2021 at the request of the United States and were extradited on September 11, 2026. If convicted, they face a potential maximum sentence of 20 years for wire fraud, 20 years for money laundering, and an additional two years for aggravated identity theft.
The FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge, Stefanie Roddy, characterized Black Axe as a "notoriously violent transnational criminal organization" that also engages in romance scams for financial gain. Roddy emphasized the resolve of the FBI and its partner agencies to pursue fraudsters targeting victims in the United States, regardless of their location.
This extradition follows recent international law enforcement efforts against African crime groups. Last month, "Operation Jackal IV," a joint action involving law enforcement agencies from 22 countries, resulted in 58 arrests and the identification of 263 suspects linked to cybercrime networks coordinated by these groups, specifically targeting the Black Axe ring. Separately, Spanish authorities arrested 34 individuals suspected of being part of a criminal network connected to Black Axe.
Black Axe, founded in Nigeria in 1977, is considered a significant global cybercrime syndicate. It is believed to have an extensive network of money mules and facilitators, with an estimated 30,000 registered members. In January 2024, a Black Axe member named Olugbenga Lawal was sentenced in the United States to ten years in prison for laundering millions of dollars stolen from elderly Americans through internet fraud schemes.
