❗️Spanish and German authorities, supported by Europol, have carried out a major operation against the international criminal organization Black Axe, resulting in 34 arrests and significant disruption to the group’s activities. Most arrests occurred in Seville, with additional arrests in Madrid, Málaga and Barcelona.
Black Axe, a hierarchical organization originating in Nigeria, is involved in cyber-enabled fraud, drug and human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, armed robbery and ritualistic practices. Authorities estimate the network caused over EUR 5.93 million in fraud-related damages, and during house searches they seized EUR 66 403 in cash and froze more than EUR 119 000 in bank accounts.
The operation targeted the group’s core members, including 10 individuals of Nigerian nationality, and uncovered a system in which Black Axe recruits vulnerable money mules in economically deprived Spanish communities. Europol provided analytical support, intelligence sharing, and on-site coordination, helping map the group’s extensive transnational network. With around 30,000 registered members operating across roughly 95 global zones, Black Axe’s decentralized structure enables billions in yearly criminal proceeds through numerous small-scale offences. This coordinated action aims to weaken the organization's cross-border operations and limit its ability to exploit victims.