Nigeria extradites woman wanted in Italy for running prostitution ring

Nigerian authorities handed over to Italy Wednesday a woman wanted by the European country since 2010 for crimes including running a prostitution ring, Reuters reports citing the Italian police.

Joy Jeff, 48, was flown from Abuja back to Rome where she has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. She has been one of the few women on Italy’s most-wanted list, police said in a statement, describing her as a prominent figure in the Nigerian mafia.

The Italian police also said the extradition was facilitated by a treaty signed by Nigeria and Italy in 2020. She was arrested in Nigeria on June 4, 2022, on an international warrant issued by Italy.

The Italian police in the eastern city of Ancona said Jeff played a leading role in trafficking women to Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, where they were forced into prostitution by violence and threats.

She has been sentenced in absentia. “Africa today is a strategic location when looking for fugitives and fighting organized crime,” said Vittorio Rizzi, an Italian police chief responsible for international coordination.