Police have arrested 34 people on suspicion of being members of a vast criminal organisation, responsible for a slew of crimes across Europe and Northern Africa.
The Black Axe group was formed in 1977 and has since been linked to cyber crimes, human and drug trafficking, armed robbery and acts of violence, including murder.
The Spanish National Police joined up with the Bavarian State Police Office and Europol to launch a joint crackdown operation.
READ MORE: Shameless thief who patrolled train station eyeing up targets jailed after tactics spotted
Need To Know reports that Europol said: “The action resulted in 34 arrests and significant disruptions to the group’s activities.
“Black Axe is a highly structured, hierarchical group with its origins in Nigeria and a global presence in dozens of countries.”
Of the 34 arrests in Spain, 28 were carried out in Seville, as well as three in Madrid, two in Málaga and one in Barcelona.
In total, it’s believed the organisation has roughly 30,000 registered members, plus countless affiliated individuals, such as money mules and facilitators.
The group, with its own violent and ritualistic initiations, enforces strict codes of conduct and promotes its own spiritual practices.
Europol said: “The group’s annual criminal proceeds are estimated to be in the billions of euros, generated through many small-scale operations that collectively have a significant impact.
“This operation was supported by Europol through a range of services, including information analysis, a data sprint held in Madrid, and on-the-spot support.
“This strategy aims to disrupt the group’s operations and seize assets, addressing the challenges posed by the group’s dispersed small cases, cross-border activity, and the blurring of crimes into ‘ordinary’ local offences.”
READ MORE: Criminal mocked for ‘jug-eared’ mugshot after going on crime spree
