The Nigeria Police Force says it has repatriated a Chinese fugitive, Zhang Shijie, to Guangzhou, China, following his arrest in Ogun State over alleged large-scale smuggling of endangered African Rosewood.
In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu says Zhang was wanted by the Yangpu Sub-Bureau of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Haikou Customs District over the alleged smuggling of about 1,400 tonnes of African Rosewood, valued at approximately 15.7 million Chinese Yuan.
According to the Police, an arrest warrant was issued for Zhang on January 7, 2021, over alleged offences committed between November 2020 and January 2021.
The Police say intelligence later established that Zhang was living in Ogun State with a Chinese passport that had expired on November 11, 2023.
Following intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated investigations, operatives of INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, arrested him in the Ogere area of Ogun State on September 10, 2026.
He was repatriated to Guangzhou, China, on September 16 as part of bilateral police cooperation.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu says the Force will continue to maximise INTERPOL tools and international police cooperation to track fugitives, combat transnational organised crime and prevent Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for persons wanted for criminal offences in other jurisdictions.
The Police say they will continue working with INTERPOL and other international law-enforcement partners to strengthen cross-border security, disrupt transnational criminal networks and bring fugitives within the reach of justice.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
