Nigeria Police Repatriate Chinese Fugitive Wanted Since 2021 Over Endangered Rosewood Smuggling

The Nigeria Police Force has repatriated a Chinese national, Zhang Shijie, to Guangzhou, China, after arresting him in Ogun State over the alleged smuggling of endangered African rosewood worth approximately 15.7 million Chinese Yuan.

Zhang had been wanted by the Yangpu Sub-Bureau of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Haikou Customs District in China since an arrest warrant was issued on January 7, 2021.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said in a statement that Zhang was accused of involvement in the smuggling of about 1,400 tonnes of Pterocarpus erinaceus, commonly known as African Rosewood, an endangered tree species native to West Africa.

The alleged offences were committed between November 2020 and January 2021, after which Zhang remained outside China.

Intelligence later established that he was residing in Ogun State, Nigeria, with a Chinese passport that had expired on 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,” Iniedu said.

He was repatriated to Guangzhou on September 16, 2026, in furtherance of bilateral police cooperation.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reiterated the Force’s commitment to strengthening international police cooperation and using INTERPOL tools to track fugitives and combat transnational organised crime.

“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,” the statement added.