Whenever Stephan Fuchs discusses Black Axe, his desk quickly becomes a sea of notes, arrows, and diagrams.
As co-director of Victras, a Swiss NGO dedicated to combating human trafficking, Fuchs explains that these intricate details are key to understanding the group’s success.
“Authorities can identify Nigerian networks,” he says, “but for a long time, no one grasped the group dynamics and mechanisms behind them.”
For years, Fuchs has been advising law enforcement on organizations like Black Axe and shedding light on their expansion.
Read Also: How Interpol Dealt Black Axe ‘Big Blow’
Despite their growing prevalence, such criminal groups remain largely unknown to the wider public in Europe.
“They are involved in international drug trade, money laundering, internet fraud, human trafficking and sometimes also protection rackets,” Fuchs says. “In Libya, there was even arms trafficking.”
A professional network for criminals
Recently, prosecutors have intensified their focus on the Black Axe group.
From April to July this year, Interpol led Operation Jackal III, aimed at dismantling West African organized crime networks.
This global anti-financial crime operation resulted in 300 arrests, the freezing of 720 bank accounts, and the identification of over 400 suspects worldwide, with police from 21 countries participating.
“This operation’s results underscore the critical need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks,” Isaac Oginni, director of Interpol’s financial crime and anti-corruption center, explained.
In examining the criminal activities of Black Axe, two major types of crime stand out: internet and financial fraud.
Uche Tobias, a private investigator who has been sounding the alarm about the group’s global expansion for years, has uncovered chat forums where criminals mock their victims.
Many of these victims are women who were deceived into believing they were in romantic relationships, only to be coerced into sending significant sums of money to their scammers.
The further Tobias delved into the organization, the more he discovered a frightening criminal underworld. “This secret association is like LinkedIn for criminals,” he says. “The members know exactly where to find person X, who can provide fake IDs, or person Y, who offers stolen credit cards.”
The success of Black Axe can be attributed to its loose network and lack of a hierarchical structure.
Read Also: Interpol Arrests Over 300 Members Of Dreaded Black Axe
When the anti-fraud investigator first published his findings, he received numerous death threats and chose to use the pseudonym ‘Uche Tobias’ for his safety.
Confraternity, cult or criminal organization?
According to Stephan Fuchs, Black Axe is just one of several growing Nigerian criminal groups.
Others include the Supreme Eiye Confraternity, the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, the Green Circuit Association International, and the Eternal Fraternal Order of the Legion Consortium—some of the most recognized in Europe.
Prosecutors often debate the terminology for these organizations, with some calling them secret associations or criminal networks, while others use terms like “confraternity” or “cult.”
Fuchs notes that all these labels are valid.
This diversity in classification complicates criminal prosecution, as not all members of these groups are involved in criminal activities.
Read Also: What Aye Cult Members Were Seen Doing In School (VIDEO)
Many of these secret societies began in the 1950s and 1960s, formed by young activists during Nigeria’s independence movement.
However, as political instability grew, criminals infiltrated these groups, recruiting individuals from the streets who were ready for violence.
Death threats for dropouts
John Omoruan, a former member of Black Axe, chose to expose the inner workings of the group despite the risks involved.
He recounts that during the 1980s, Black Axe began to shift towards organized crime, particularly through smuggling marijuana to Europe.
Criminals were drawn to Black Axe due to its structured environment, which facilitated their illicit activities.
At the same time, the group’s harrowing rituals enforced unwavering loyalty and secrecy among new members.
According to Omoruan, as the organization grew, its tactics became increasingly ruthless, expanding its reach into communities worldwide.
Nonetheless, he believes the group’s foundational principles remain largely unchanged.
Stephan Fuchs sees Interpol’s recent operation as a sign that law enforcement is improving in its understanding of Black Axe’s structure and operations.
However, he warns against complacency, emphasizing the need to recognize these groups as organized crime networks and approach them accordingly.
Source: German News Service
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
