A Chinese fugitive accused of smuggling about 12 tonnes of endangered pangolin scales from Nigeria to China has been repatriated to face prosecution after seven years on the run. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, says INTERPOL operatives arrested 42-year-old Cai Jinlian in Abuja before returning him to Shanghai under bilateral police cooperation arrangements.
According to Iniedu, the Nigeria Police Force, through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, repatriated Jinlian to the People’s Republic of China, where he is wanted for charges relating to the trafficking of endangered wildlife.
He is wanted by the Anti-Smuggling Sub Bureau of Wenzhou Customs in Zhejiang Province for allegedly smuggling approximately 12 tonnes of tree pangolin scales from Nigeria into China in two consignments between November 2018 and April 2019. Two of his accomplices were convicted and sentenced to more than 14 years’ imprisonment by the Wenzhou Intermediate People’s Court in December 2020.
Jinlian fled China through Egypt on July 12, 2019. An arrest warrant was issued against him on March 24, 2020, followed by an INTERPOL Red Notice on May 10, 2020. Intelligence later established that he had relocated to Nigeria around 2023, moving between Delta and Plateau states before INTERPOL NCB Abuja operatives arrested him in Abuja on July 18, 2026.
He was repatriated to Shanghai on July 29 under bilateral police cooperation arrangements to face the pending charges.
Inspector-General of Police, Olutunji Rilwan Disu, commended the professionalism and dedication of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja team and directed the Environmental Crimes and Works of Art Team to intensify intelligence-led efforts against wildlife trafficking and other transnational organised crimes. He also reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to strengthening international law enforcement cooperation through INTERPOL and other strategic partnerships to combat transnational crime and protect endangered wildlife.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
