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Italian police arrest 30 suspected Nigerian gang members

Published 26/04/2021, 15:44
Updated 26/04/2021, 15:48
© Reuters.

ROME, April 26 (Reuters) - Italian police said on Monday
they had arrested 30 people suspected of belonging to the
Nigerian Black Axe mafia gang that has been operating in many
regions of the country.
All those seized were Nigerian nationals, with arrests
carried out across Italy. The suspects face almost 100 charges,
including mafia association, drug trafficking, illegal
immigration, prostitution and internet fraud, police said.
Among those detained was the Black Axe's alleged leader in
Italy -- a 35-year-old man who lived in L'Aquila, in the central
Abruzzo region. His name was not given.
"There is evidence that the members had a direct connection
with the Nigerian gang, drawing on the same vocabulary, symbols
and affiliation rituals," police said.
The Black Axe group emerged from Nigeria in the 1990s,
carrying out ritual murders, mutilation and rape before
developing a powerful international network.
Police said most of the suspected crimes were committed on
the Internet, including using bitcoins on the dark web to
purchase the numbers of cloned credit cards, which were used for
online shopping sprees.
Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said Italy was showing
its determination to tackle organised crime.
"This proves the ability of the judiciary and police forces
to fight against old and new mafia groups which are trying to
extend their criminal reach and expand their business,"
Lamorgese said in a statement.

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