- Law enforcement arrested 34 people in Spain linked to the transnational group Black Axe.
- Authorities estimate fraud losses of about $6.9 million and froze roughly $139,000 while seizing about $77,000 in cash.
- Black Axe traces to Nigeria, was founded in 1977, and reportedly has about 30,000 registered members and wider affiliates.
- Previous operations by law enforcement, including actions by INTERPOL, led to large seizures (more than $5 million) and hundreds of arrests.
On Jan. 10, 2026, Europol announced that 34 people were arrested in Spain in an operation targeting the criminal network Black Axe. The arrests were led by the Spanish National Police with coordination from the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and Europol. Locations included Seville (28 arrests), Madrid (3), Málaga (2) and Barcelona (1).
According to Europol said, the group engages in many crimes. "The criminal network is known for its involvement in a wide range of criminal activities, including cyber-enabled fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking and prostitution, kidnapping, armed robbery and fraudulent spiritual practices."
Investigators estimate the network caused about $6.9 million in fraud losses. Authorities froze approximately $138,935 (reported) in bank accounts — about $139,000 when rounded — and seized about $77,290 in cash (approximately $77,000) during searches.
Black Axe began in Nigeria in 1977 and is described as a hierarchical criminal group with roughly 30,000 registered members plus money mules and facilitators. The syndicate has been linked to a wide range of cyber-enabled frauds such as business email compromise, romance scams, inheritance scams, credit card fraud, tax fraud, advance payment scams, and money laundering.
Earlier international efforts have also targeted the group. In late 2022, INTERPOL reported arrests tied to Operation Jackal that recovered millions in fraud proceeds. In July 2024, INTERPOL said it had confiscated more than $5 million in assets, cryptocurrencies and luxury items, and that over 400 arrests followed related actions. A related video is available on YouTube.
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