Operatives of the Nigerian criminal network, Black Axe, have been arrested in Switzerland over their involvement in romance scams, cyber fraud, and money laundering activities.
This was disclosed by Europol in a statement published on its website on Tuesday, April 28, following an operation conducted across several Swiss cantons.
Black Axe, formally linked to the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, is a highly structured and hierarchical organisation with a global presence, known for engaging in cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other violent crimes.
What they are saying
Europol said coordinated house searches led to multiple arrests targeting leaders and members of the group operating internationally.
- “On 28 April 2026, house searches were carried out in several Swiss cantons, resulting in a total of 10 arrests, including the Black Axe ‘Regional Head’ for the Southern European region. This operation targeted leaders and members of the Nigerian brotherhood suspected of being active internationally in a wide range of criminal activities,” the agency said.
Authorities added that the arrests followed investigations led by Zurich prosecutors and police authorities, with suspects accused of several offences.
The crimes include romance scams and other cyber fraud schemes that caused millions of Swiss francs in damages, as well as money laundering.
- “During this action day, 10 persons were arrested, most of whom are of Nigerian origin,” Europol stated.
More insights
Investigations by Swiss authorities were carried out with support from Europol and through cross-border collaboration with other European law enforcement agencies.
The agency provided operational support, including intelligence analysis and coordination efforts, as well as a data-sharing exercise conducted in Madrid.
This helped map the network’s structure across countries, track its activities, and support coordinated national investigations aimed at disrupting the group’s operations and seizing illicit assets.
The operation also received backing from the ON Network, funded by the European Union and led by Italy’s Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate, as part of wider efforts to tackle organised transnational crime.
What you should know
It is not the first time members of Black Axe have been arrested for international crimes.
- In January, Europol announced the arrest of 10 Nigerians linked to the Black Axe network, with fraud losses estimated at over €5.93 million.
- Between April and July 2024, a coordinated Interpol operation led to the arrest of 300 suspects across 21 countries in an operation known as Jackal III, exposing the group’s global scale and its use of cybercrime and cryptocurrency for money laundering.
In November 2023, Irish authorities seized over €1 million in crypto-assets, alongside $3 million in other illegal proceeds, and froze more than 700 bank accounts connected to the network.
