By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Nigeria Police Force has repatriated a Chinese fugitive wanted over the alleged smuggling of about 1,400 tonnes of endangered African Rosewood.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Iniedu said operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, arrested Zhang Shijie in the Ogere area of Ogun State on September 10, 2026.
According to the police, Zhang was wanted by the Yangpu Sub-Bureau of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Haikou Customs District, China.
The police said he was wanted over the alleged smuggling of Pterocarpus erinaceus, commonly known as African Rosewood, an endangered species native to West Africa.
The consignment was valued at about 15.7 million Chinese Yuan, the Force said.
The alleged offences occurred between November 2020 and January 2021, while Chinese authorities issued an arrest warrant for Zhang on January 7, 2021.
Police said intelligence later established that he was living in Ogun State with a Chinese passport that expired on November 11, 2023.
Following surveillance and coordinated investigations, INTERPOL NCB Abuja arrested him and repatriated him to **Guangzhou, China, on September 16**.
The police said the repatriation followed bilateral law-enforcement cooperation between Nigeria and China.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, said the Force would continue to use INTERPOL tools to track fugitives and tackle transnational organised crime.
He also reaffirmed the police commitment to preventing Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for persons wanted for criminal offences in other countries.
