Suspected members of the Nigerian-linked Black Axe crime gang have ​been arrested in Switzerland accused of ‌involvement in romance scams and cyber fraud, Europol said on Tuesday.

Black Axe grew out of ​a student fraternity in the late ​1970s called the Neo Black Movement ⁠of Africa, and it has since ​evolved into a structured, violent criminal organisation ​often dealing in financial cybercrime.

“The suspects are accused of numerous crimes. This includes romance scams ​and other cyber fraud offences causing millions ​of Swiss francs in damages, as well as ‌money ⁠laundering,” said Europol, which is headquartered in The Hague, in a statement.

The pan-European police body said 10 people – most ​of whom ​are of ⁠Nigerian origin – had been arrested in the operation that ​also involved German police.

The Swiss operation ​against ⁠the Black Axe crime gang follows a similar operation carried out by Spanish ⁠police ​in January, while global ​police body Interpol had also targeted it in ​2023.

REUTERS