By Ayorinde Oluokun
The Nigeria Police Force said a Chinese man, Zhang Shijie, who ran to Nigeria to avoid prosecution over alleged large-scale smuggling of endangered African Rosewood has been arrested and repatriated to his country.
The suspect was repatriated to Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, through INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, following his arrest in Ogere area of Ogun State, Force spokesperson, CSP Ani Iniedu, said in a statement on Thursday.
Iniedu said Zhang was wanted by the Yangpu Sub-Bureau of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Haikou Customs District, China.
The Customs District had issued an arrest warrant against Zhang on 7th January, 2021 over his alleged involvement in the smuggling of approximately 1,400 tonnes of Pterocarpus erinaceus, commonly known as African Rosewood, an endangered tree species indigenous to West Africa.
The consignment was valued at about 15.7 million Chinese Yuan.
According to the statement by the Niger Police, Zhang committed the alleged offences between November 2020 and January 2021, after which he left China.
Iniedu said intelligence subsequently established his presence in Nigeria, where he was residing in Ogun State with a Chinese passport which expired since 11th November, 2023.
“Following sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated investigative efforts, operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja arrested the fugitive on 10 September 2026 in the Ogere area of Ogun State, after which he was repatriated to Guangzhou, China, on 16th September 2026 in furtherance of bilateral police cooperation,” Iniedu said.
He quoted the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu as reiterating the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthening international police cooperation and maximising INTERPOL tools and capabilities in tracking fugitives, combating transnational organised crime and preventing Nigeria from being used as a safe haven by persons wanted for criminal offences in other jurisdictions.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to working with INTERPOL and international law-enforcement partners to strengthen cross-border security, disrupt transnational criminal networks and ensure that fugitives are brought within the reach of justice,” Iniedu concluded in the statement.
