The Nigeria Police Force has repatriated a Chinese fugitive, Zhang Shijie, to Guangzhou, China, for alleged large-scale smuggling of endangered African Rosewood.
Zhang was arrested in Nigeria through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, and returned to China on September 16, 2026, after bilateral police cooperation.
In a statement on Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said Zhang was wanted by the Yangpu Sub-Bureau of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Haikou Customs District.
He was the subject of an arrest warrant issued on January 7, 2021, over alleged smuggling of about 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, and the offences were allegedly committed between November 2020 and January 2021.
After committing the offence, Zhang fled China and intelligence later established his presence in Nigeria, where he was residing in Ogun State with a Chinese passport that expired since November 11, 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,” the statement said.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reiterated the commitment of the Force to strengthening international police cooperation and maximizing INTERPOL tools in tracking fugitives and combating transnational organized crime.
He said the Police will continue to prevent Nigeria from being used as a safe haven by persons wanted for criminal offences in other jurisdictions.