In the eye of the storm
What on the surface appeared to be a local raid was actually part of a global operation against Nigerian brotherhoods, which engage in drug trafficking, fraud and money laundering across entire continents. Their victims lose everything: money, trust and freedom.
‘Go! Go!’
The crack of dawn, 6am on 14 May 2024, Operation JACKAL begins on Rue de Genève, Lausanne. Officers from fedpol, the Vaud Cantonal Police, the Lausanne City Police, the Canton of Vaud public prosecutor’s office and INTERPOL agents gain access to an apartment building. As soon as the first police officer enters through the front door, bags of white powder – presumably cocaine – are thrown out of the windows. The suspects frantically try to destroy evidence, but the police are quicker. 57 police officers systematically comb through apartments that had been used as hideouts and storage depots for drug traffickers. 22 individuals without legal residence status in Switzerland are apprehended. Two receive short prison sentences the same day, four are placed in pre-trial detention, and three others are transferred to other cantons. Over a kilogram of cocaine and CHF 48,000 in cash are seized.
Nigerian brotherhoods
The brotherhoods trace their origins back to the 1950s, when they emerged in Nigeria from student fraternities, initially pursuing social aims. Over the years, groups such as Black Axe, Vikings, Maphites and the Supreme Eiye Confraternity have become fronts for international criminal syndicates. They are characterised by their strict hierarchies and are highly adaptable. A global mastermind calls the shots, and regional chapters carry out his orders.
Flashback. In 2021, foreign partners alerted fedpol that Nigerians from Switzerland had been spotted at a Black Axe European brotherhood meeting in Brussels. fedpol investigated and identified around 200 members in Switzerland who were assigned to various brotherhoods. Their victims often lose their entire life savings. Women are lured into prostitution with promises of a better life. Others fall victim to scams in their search for romance and end up losing their money and trust in social contacts. Retirees fall for elaborately concocted stories and are exploited as cash or drug mules. A number of Swiss pensioners are currently serving time in foreign prisons as a result.
Money from Switzerland flows into international networks and finances crime in Europe, Africa and South America. The analysis shows that nearly all Swiss cantons are affected, with Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich serving as major hubs for activities such as money laundering and drug distribution. Rival gangs settle their differences violently – in 2024 alone, fedpol reported ten violent clashes in Switzerland.
Operation JACKAL yields impressive results: INTERPOL freezes over EUR 1.2 million in illicit funds, 75 suspects are arrested and a number of key figures are identified. Intelligence gained from the Lausanne operation is fed into the analysis and shared with partner agencies. Bit by bit, the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The Swiss police have shown that they can act decisively and send a clear signal: Switzerland is no safe haven for criminal networks, which will be relentlessly pursued.
Operation JACKAL
INTERPOL has been conducting a global operation dubbed JACKAL, targeting West African crime syndicates. The focus is on Nigerian brotherhoods, in particular Black Axe, which has gained influence through drug trafficking, online fraud, human trafficking and money laundering. Around 30 suspected members have been identified in Switzerland, mainly in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich. The networks operate transnationally and move funds to finance criminal activities worldwide.
‘We must act decisively in Switzerland to prevent Nigerian brotherhoods from gaining a foothold and expanding their activities. To do that, we first need to understand how they operate, what their values are and how their members think.’
Michael, federal investigator