Europol‑Backed Operation Leads to 34 Arrests in Black Axe Crime Network Bust

The Spanish National Police, working alongside the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and Europol, has conducted a major operation targeting the international Black Axe criminal organisation.

The coordinated action resulted in 34 arrests and dealt a significant blow to the network’s operations across Spain.

Law enforcement arrested 34 suspects across multiple Spanish cities: 28 in Seville, 3 in Madrid, 2 in Málaga, and 1 in Barcelona.

The core group includes 10 Nigerian nationals believed to be key members of the organization. Investigators estimate that the network is responsible for fraud that has caused damages exceeding €5.93 million.

During the operation, authorities froze €119,352 in bank accounts and seized €66,403 in cash during house searches, disrupting the group’s financial infrastructure.

Global Criminal Enterprise

Black Axe, formally linked to the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, operates as a highly structured hierarchical organization with origins in Nigeria and a presence in dozens of countries worldwide.

The group divides its territory into approximately 60 zones in Nigeria and 35 abroad, with around 200 members per zone and roughly 30,000 registered members globally.

The criminal network engages in various illegal activities, including cyber-enabled fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking, prostitution, kidnapping, armed robbery, and fraudulent spiritual practices.

Their annual criminal proceeds are estimated in the billions of euros, generated through numerous small-scale operations.

The operation specifically targeted the core group responsible for recruiting money mules in impoverished areas with high unemployment rates.

Most of these vulnerable individuals are Spanish nationals exploited to facilitate the network’s criminal activities. The successful operation demonstrates the importance of cross-border collaboration.

Europol provided crucial support through information analysis, intelligence sharing, and on-site assistance during the action day.

Two German officers were deployed to Spain to support the operation, highlighting the international commitment to dismantling transnational organized crime networks.

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