Overview

• The 46-year-old was detained on June 19 under an Oldenburg court warrant accusing him of numerous fraud and money laundering offences.
• Investigators from Lower Saxony and Bavaria, backed by Eurojust and international partners, have identified 13 individuals linked to the Confraternity Black Axe group.
• Officials allege the network used dating platforms and social media to defraud victims with fabricated emergencies and fake invoices, netting over €1 million.
• Evidence suggests some members coerced migrants into unpaid labor and withheld their wages, prompting human trafficking and forced labor charges.
• Three prior warrants led to arrests in Germany and Austria in March and authorities are still analysing seized evidence as the investigation continues.