Europol Operation Arrests 34 Members of the Feared Black Axe Organization in Spain

European law enforcement agencies have arrested 34 people in Spain in connection with a crackdown on Black Axe, one of the largest transnational criminal organizations in the world.

The operation, led by Spain’s National Police with support from Europol and German authorities, disrupted an extensive cyber-enabled fraud network responsible for millions of euros in losses.

Most of the arrests took place in Seville, with some people detained in Madrid, Málaga, and Barcelona.

What investigators uncovered

Authorities say the criminal network is responsible for more than €5.93 million in financial damages. During coordinated house searches, police froze over €119,000 in bank accounts and seized more than €66,000 in cash.

Black Axe has been linked to online romance scams, business email compromise attacks, phishing campaigns, and many other types of digital fraud.

Exploiting vulnerable communities

The investigation also found that the network went after vulnerable people to support its operations, focusing on neighborhoods with high unemployment and convincing locals to act as money mules for stolen funds.

“The operation targeted the core group of the organised crime network, which recruits money mules in impoverished areas with high unemployment rates. Most of these vulnerable individuals are of Spanish nationality and are exploited to facilitate the network’s criminal activities,” said Europol.

According to Europol, Black Axe, formally linked to the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, is a highly structured, hierarchical group with an extensive presence in approximately 60 zones in Nigeria and 35 abroad, with about 200 members per zone. Black Axe is believed to have roughly 30,000 registered members, not counting mules and other affiliates.

FAQ

What is Black Axe?
Black Axe is a transnational organized crime group with origins in Nigeria, known for cyber-enabled fraud, money laundering and other serious crimes.

How many people were arrested in Spain?
A total of 34 suspects were arrested across several Spanish cities, primarily in Seville.

What role did Europol play?
Europol supported the investigation through intelligence analysis, coordination between countries and operational assistance.

Is Black Axe fully dismantled?
No. Authorities say the group remains active globally, but the operation significantly disrupted its European activities.