The Nigeria Police Force has repatriated a Chinese national, Zhang Shijie, to China following his arrest in Nigeria over alleged large-scale smuggling of endangered African rosewood.

Zhang was wanted by the Yangpu Sub-Bureau of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Haikou Customs District in China over allegations of involvement in the smuggling of about 1,400 tonnes of Pterocarpus erinaceus, commonly known as African rosewood.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Chief Superintendent of Police Ani Iniedu on X on Thursday, the consignment was valued at approximately 15.7 million Chinese yuan.

The alleged offences were committed between November 2020 and January 2021, while an arrest warrant was issued for Zhang on January 7, 2021. He subsequently remained outside China.

The police said intelligence later established that Zhang was residing in Ogun State, Nigeria, using a Chinese passport that expired on November 11, 2023.

Following intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated investigative efforts, operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, arrested Zhang on September 10, 2026, in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

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

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthening international police cooperation and maximising INTERPOL tools and capabilities to track fugitives and combat transnational organised crime.

The NPF said it would continue to work with INTERPOL and other international law-enforcement agencies to disrupt cross-border criminal networks and prevent Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for persons wanted for criminal offences in other countries. (The PUNCH)