34 arrests in Spain as part of the operation against the criminal organization "Black Axe"
The Spanish National Police, supported by Europol and German authorities, is targeting a Nigerian-origin syndicate involved in cyber fraud and human trafficking.
Madrid, January 9, 2026 – The Spanish National Police has carried out a major operation against the international criminal organization known as "Black Axe", resulting in 34 arrests and significant disruption of the group's activities. The action, executed in close cooperation with the Criminal Police Office of Bavaria and Europol, targeted a highly structured network responsible for damages from fraud estimated at over 5.93 million euros.
In brief
The operation led to the arrest of 34 individuals across Spain, with most of the arrests taking place in Seville, followed by Madrid, Málaga, and Barcelona.
Investigators uncovered fraud schemes that caused damages of over 5.93 million euros and confiscated over 66,000 euros in cash, while also freezing nearly 120,000 euros in bank accounts.
The network recruited vulnerable individuals from impoverished areas as "money mules" to facilitate crimes ranging from cyber fraud to human trafficking and drug smuggling.
The operation focused on the core of the Black Axe network, a hierarchical group with origins in Nigeria and a presence in dozens of countries. Among the arrested suspects, the central leadership group consisted of ten individuals of Nigerian nationality. The network is known for its involvement in a multitude of criminal activities, including cyber fraud, drug and human trafficking, kidnappings, and armed robberies. The group generates billions of euros annually through numerous small-scale operations, collectively creating a massive financial impact.
A key aspect of the investigation revealed the group's modus operandi regarding money laundering. The network recruited "money mules" – individuals often selected from impoverished areas with high unemployment rates – to move illicit funds. Most of these exploited individuals were of Spanish nationality. Cross-border collaboration was crucial, with German officers deployed on-site, and Europol providing intelligence analysis to map the dispersed structure of the group and link local crimes to the broader international syndicate.
