Cross-border operation against ‘Black Axe’ crime gang sees 34 arrests in Spain | World News

Spanish police have arrested dozens of members of an international criminal gang on suspicion of fraud, ⁠money laundering and document forgery, Europol said on Friday.

Officers arrested 34 people believed to be involved in the so-called Black Axe organisation as part of a joint operation with German police in Bavaria, with the support of Europol – the EU’s law enforcement agency.

All but six of the arrests were carried out in Seville, with three in the Spanish capital Madrid, two in Malaga and one in Barcelona.

Originating in Nigeria, the Black Axe has evolved from a student fraternity in the late 70s into a “highly structured”, violent criminal organisation with a global presence in dozens of countries dealing mainly in cyber-enabled financial crime.

The group, according to authorities, is hierarchical and thought to be involved in a catalogue of criminal activities, including fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking and prostitution, kidnapping, armed robbery and what Europol call “fraudulent spiritual practices”.

Officers involved in the current investigation estimate the gang defrauded its victims of more than €5.9m (£5.1m).

“The group enforces strict codes of conduct, violent and ritualistic initiations, and spiritual practices,” Europol said. The latest arrests had meant “significant disruptions to the group’s activities”.

“The operation targeted the core group of the organised crime network, which recruits money mules in impoverished areas with high unemployment rates,” a statement from the agency said on Friday.

“Most of these vulnerable individuals are of Spanish nationality and are exploited to facilitate the network’s criminal activities.”

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Europol says Black Axe has roughly 30,000 registered members, and countless affiliated individuals such as money mules and facilitators and is estimated to make billions of euros a year from crime.