12 Nigerians have been jailed in Germany for their involvement in an international romance fraud and money laundering syndicate.
The syndicate is said to target vulnerable victims through fake online relationships.
The convictions were handed down on Thursday by a court in Munich after the defendants, aged between 34 and 55, were found guilty of participating in a criminal network that deceived victims into parting with large sums of money.
The convicts received prison terms ranging from three years and four months to eight years and six months.
According to prosecutors, the syndicate was linked to the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as the Black Axe confraternity, and operated a sophisticated cross-border fraud scheme.
Investigators said members of the group created fake identities, including posing as United States military personnel deployed in the Middle East, to establish romantic relationships with victims through social media platforms and dating websites.
After gaining the trust of their targets, the suspects allegedly requested money for fabricated emergencies, including medical expenses, travel arrangements and customs-related charges.
The court heard that most of the victims were women, elderly persons and people living with disabilities.
The government also revealed that proceeds from the fraud were allegedly channelled to the Black Axe organisation, which is based in Nigeria but operates internationally.
The 12 suspects were arrested during coordinated police raids across Bavaria in April 2024 following a lengthy investigation involving German intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Investigators noted that many victims failed to report the crimes because they felt ashamed or embarrassed about being deceived.
The judgment brings to an end a trial that began in Munich in April 2025, marking the conclusion of one of Germany’s major prosecutions involving an international online romance scam network.
