Spanish National Police, working with Germany’s Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and supported by Europol, arrested 34 people in Spain during an operation against the international criminal organization known as “Black Axe,” Europol announced. 

The group is described as a highly structured, hierarchical criminal syndicate with origins in Nigeria and a presence in dozens of countries. Ten of the suspects in the core group arrested are Nigerian nationals, according to Europol’s announcement. 

Authorities carried out 28 arrests in Seville, three in Madrid, two in Málaga, and one in Barcelona, Europol said. Investigators believe the network is responsible for fraud losses exceeding €5.93 million. Police froze €119,352 held in bank accounts and seized €66,403 in cash during house searches, the organization said. 

Black Axe has been linked to a broad range of criminal activity, including cyber-enabled fraud, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, kidnapping, armed robbery, and fraudulent spiritual practices. The organization’s annual criminal proceeds are estimated to be in the billions of euros, Europol said. 

The operation focused on what investigators described as the network’s core group and its recruitment of money mules, targeting vulnerable people in impoverished areas with high unemployment. Europol said most of the money mules exploited in this case are Spanish nationals, used to facilitate the group’s criminal activity.

Formally linked to the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, Black Axe is organized into about 60 “zones” within Nigeria and 35 abroad, with roughly 200 members per zone. Europol estimated the organization has around 30,000 registered members, plus “countless” affiliates such as money mules and facilitators. 

Read more at Europol