Nigerian mafia gang members arrested in South Africa

South African and US law enforcement agencies have arrested at least six members of the Nigerian Black Axe mafia syndicate in Cape Town, TimesLive news website reports.

Six members of the mafia group, believed to be behind hundreds of thousands of “romance scams”, were reportedly arrested in a raid in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The group emerged in the 1970s in Nigeria where they carried out rape, mutilation and ritual murders. They went on to build a powerful international network, BBC News reports.

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Several members of the Black Axe mafia were arrested in April in Italy where the group also has a strong presence.

They faced about 100 charges including drug and people trafficking, prostitution and internet fraud.